Roman artifacts including an “incredibly rare” figurine depicting the god Mercury have been found at a medieval shipbuilding site. While excavating the National Trust plot near Tenterden, archaeologists came across earlier evidence of a Roman settlement, in use between the 1st and 3rd centuries. Among the finds was the head of a figurine of the god Mercury made from pipeclay. While Mercury is the most common god for metal figurines, pipeclay examples are extremely rare, with less than ten so far found from Roman Britain. Also found at Smallhythe Place were tiles stamped with the mark of the Ro…