Roman Britain burial ground found

A burial ground found under the A2 in Kent has marked the area as one of the most important sites of Roman Britain.

Archaeologists say the burial site, near Gravesend [near the Roman town of Springhead], ranks with those found at the most important Roman cities such as Colchester and St Albans.

Three graves were found during a routine dig before work started on a £122m road widening scheme.

Archaeologist Tim Allen said one of the bodies, which had been cremated, was clearly of a "very important person"...

"At the bottom of the pit, we came across the metal handles of a wooden board, and later a set of 23 glass counters and two bone dice, suggesting that we had found a gaming board," said Mr Allen...

The remains included half a pig, which would have been food for the afterlife, and a large safety pin brooch. The second burial site contained 15 pots, a bronze jug and another cremated body with a brooch. In the third was a wooden box with a polished bronze mirror and several copper rings.