Roman red hill/saltern and settlement, Red Hill XII, Canvey Island (EHER 7126)

Excavations in 1963/4 of a flat topped mound revealed evidence of salt working dating from the early first century to AD 80-100. Much briquetage and pottery was found and a building, with occupation continuing into the 4th century.

Monument description derived from merging EHER 7126 and 7127. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Settlement (NR) (site of) (NAT). <1> 1963-1964. Excavation. Small Iron Age and Roman red hill excavated 1963-4 by the Wickford Archaeological Society. A Belgic midden was found below the red hill, containing black pottery, bones and oyster shells. Burnt earth layers contained Iron Age 'C' and early Roman pottery. In 1966 the mound was reported as destroyed by the construction of a filter bed at TQ 7883382243 (this seems to be incorrect, as the site was excavated again in 1968). Finds were first made in soil tips at TQ 78808208 (the siting given by Rodwell). <2> <3> 1966. Excavation. Before excavation the red hill showed as a rectangular mound 2ft above the surrounding ground level. A projection carried two mounds of medieval date (see EHER 7128). A trench cut through one of the mounds found medieval layers, above a Roman level. 1st and 2nd century pottery lay at the bottom of this, 3rd and 4th century pottery at the top. Post hole structures and a gravel floor were found. Two post holes may have been part of a retaining wall on one edge of the floor. A bronze 1st century coin was found in this layer. The structures were probably 2nd in date. A lava block was found with marks from sharpening. Below the layer were remains associated with salt-working: loosely packed red burnt earth, mixed with briquetage, Belgic and Roman 1st century pottery. Another trench on the northern edge of this mound encountered Roman burnt earth layers, with an early Roman kitchen midden sealed between these layers. A trench N of the red hill found a large medieval hearth formed of stone including Roman materials. A few Roman sherds were found below the hearth. Another trench opened on the medieval mound found a medieval hearth whose construction included a Roman tile fragment. Roman and Belgic remains were comparable to the first trench dug across the mound. Another medieval hearth was found in a trench north of this mound, with much Roman tile, some with mortar adhering, used in its construction. Later Roman occupation levels were found overlying burnt earth. A trench on the southern edge of the red hill uncovered few, late Roman remains, including an unusual blue-grey colour-coated sherd, apparently kiln waste. The southern limit of burnt earth was reached and briquetage was found. Another trench succeeded in defining the western edge of the red hill, with similar results to the southernmost trench. Finds from all the trenches included animal bones, shell, small unidentifiable iron finds, some nails, two pieces of sheet lead. Pottery included Samian. Salt production here seems to begun in the early 1st century, ending about 80-100. Occupation continued through into the 4th century. 2nd century post hole structures were found and the tile with mortar attached indicates that there must have been a masonry building in the area. Finds from the excavations were to go to Chelmsford Museum (in fact they went to Southend Museum). <4> - <8> 1968. Excavation. In 1968 a brief rescue excavation took place in advance of construction of an access road to the sea wall over part of the site. Late Iron Age and Roman pottery finds confirmed the dating of the site suggested above. Finds included South Gaulish decorated Samian (f29 and 37). Burnt earth contained much briquetage, suggesting a collapsed furnace or evaporation hearth may exist nearby. Later occupation was represented by 2nd and 3rd century pottery including East Gaulish Samian. Finds and supplementary report are in Southend Museum. <9> <10>