by Sian Napier

A 2,000-year-old murder mystery has emerged after archaeologists uncovered the body of a girl they think was killed by Romans.

The skeleton of a girl, believed to be in her late teens, was found near the A2 at Ospringe.

It had a large weapon wound to the back of her skull, probably caused by a knife or Roman army spear.

Archaeologist Paul Wilkinson, who is leading the dig, said: "We found the body in a quickly cut grave and it is clear that she was just thrown in there with no ceremony.

"There are no grave goods and she isn't wearing any jewellery. It looks like she was killed by a blow to the back of the head.

"The grave has been dated to about 50 AD, when cremations rather than inhumations were the norm and therefore is of the era when Roman troops invaded Britain almost 2,000 years ago.

"The girl was hastily buried in a makeshift grave alongside a newly established Roman marching camp.

"It shows how all invading armies act the same throughout history.

"One can only imagine what trauma this poor girl had to suffer before she was killed by a Roman sword stabbing her in the back of the head.

"By the position of the entry wound she would have been kneeling at the time.

"Her body was tossed into a hastily dug grave outside the camp without any ceremony or grave goods to aid her journey to the afterlife.

"Thousands of motorists pass daily, unaware of the body of the young girl which has lain there all this time."

Dr Wilkinson and his team of archaeologists have been excavating at the site, near Syndale Park, for some time.

In the summer they hope to move across the road to the other side of the A2 to carry on following the remains of an invasion-era Roman marching camp and a cemetery.

The latest dig, which started on Good Friday, has uncovered a 1st century AD military trench and the corner of the fort.

Military horse decorations dating from the invasion era were discovered in a ditch, along with pottery from the late Iron Age and early Roman period.

Two specific pieces of pottery have been dated to 50 AD.

The archaeologists have also found rubbish pits containing the remains of military items and highly decorated samian ware from the 1st century, along with the handle from a Gallo-Roman fine ware jug, a decorated Roman bone pin, flint walls and daub.

Dr Wilkinson said there was an Iron Age settlement on the hill at Syndale Park but this, along with many in the country, went out of use following the Roman invasion and conquest.

The excavation ended on bank holiday Monday. The body of the young girl will be left in situ.