EX FLT 23, SFN123, head dimensions 135mm x 210mm x 150mm; weight 5.35kg _HEAD_front FINAL.

Roman statue of Triton

Archaeologists from the Canterbury Archaeological Trust (CAT) have found a spectacular statue of the Roman sea god Triton during their excavations in connection with a new housing development being brought forward jointly by Moat Homes (Moat) and Chartway Partnerships Group (Chartway) adjacent to the A2 London Road (which follows Roman Watling Street) at Teynham in Kent.

The excavations have discovered a mausoleum set in a walled and ditched enclosure alongside what was once the main road between London and the Roman ports of Richborough and Dover.

Discovered during archaeological excavations of a mausoleum and cemetery in Teynham Kent

The site

The site was first found during trial trenching in 2017 when two perpendicular fragments of chalk wall foundation and two urned Roman cremation burials were discovered. As a result of these findings Swale Borough Council, following advice from archaeologists at Kent County Council Heritage Conservation (KCC Heritage Conservation), placed a planning condition for an archaeological excavation focused at the site of a planned roundabout alongside the A2 road. Earlier this year, archaeological consultancy RPS, A Tetra Tech Company agreed proposals for a half a hectare of archaeological excavation with KCC Heritage Conservation on behalf of Swale Borough Council. CAT were appointed to undertake the archaeological investigation which commenced in late May 2023.

The excavation

Following site stripping and partial archaeological excavation the fragments of wall identified in 2017 were found to be elements of a 30m square walled enclosure around a c.8m square structure. Further excavation suggested the structure relates to a Roman mausoleum whose demolition fills contained a Roman coin of c.320 to 330 AD. The stone walled enclosure was set within a wider c.65m by 70m outer precinct enclosure ditch extending southwards to flank the former Roman road, whose probable roadside ditch was also partially exposed immediately adjacent to the A2.

Excavation

Spectacular finds

The spectacular finds

Several Roman and possibly later burials were identified during the excavation both within and immediately adjacent to these enclosures, some of which contained grave goods. The most spectacular find was a unique stone statue of sea god Triton, son of Poseidon/Roman Neptune (or a Triton, one of the minions of Neptune). The statue was found ritually placed within a disused clay-lined water tank, along with burnt fill material, beyond the south-east corner of the outer ditched enclosure (where the enclosure takes a double ditched form possibly to define a track heading north-east from the main Roman road). A further possible small (c.1m square) monument or statue base was found to the south of the walled inner enclosure. These associations suggest the enclosure complex and central mausoleum was a funerary site of a wealthy local family (possibly associated with a Roman villa found previously at Bax Farm further to the north) and dedicated to Roman maritime deities.

Triton

The Roman statue of Triton

The most spectacular find was a unique stone statue of sea god Triton, son of Poseidon/Roman Neptune (or a Triton, one of the minions of Neptune). The statue was found ritually placed within a disused clay-lined water tank, along with burnt fill material, beyond the south-east corner of the outer ditched enclosure (where the enclosure takes a double ditched form possibly to define a track heading north-east from the main Roman road). A further possible small (c.1m square) monument or statue base was found to the south of the walled inner enclosure. These associations suggest the enclosure complex and central mausoleum was a funerary site of a wealthy local family (possibly associated with a Roman villa found previously at Bax Farm further to the north) and dedicated to Roman maritime deities.

Gallery

Roman statue of Triton

EX FLT 23, SFN121, body dimensions 700mm x 200mm x 540mm; weight 59.75kg

Roman statue of Triton

EX FLT 23, SFN121, body dimensions 700mm x 200mm x 540mm; weight 59.75kg

Excavating urned cremation

Roman statue of Triton

EX FLT 23, SFN121, body dimensions 700mm x 200mm x 540mm; weight 59.75kg

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Monitoring

Careful monitoring

Weekly meetings have been held throughout the ongoing excavations with RPS, CAT, Chartway and KCC Heritage Conservation’s team to review site progress, excavation methodology and the importance of the Roman discoveries. Happily, the preservation of the central mausoleum’s foundations within the soft landscape centre of the roundabout zone, along with the precinct wall has been found to be feasible and work is underway to ensure those key remains are carefully buried and retained.

Future

The future

The Triton statue has been carefully lifted and removed from the site for initial conservation works which have revealed the fascinating detail and craftsmanship of the piece. Further research into the statue itself and the circumstances of its ritual burial are on-going.