Site Event/Activity record ECH6144 - Archaeological Attendances during Geotechnical Investigations, Linenhall, Chester

An archaeological watching brief was carried out during geotechnical investigations at Linenhall, Chester. The Watching Brief was implemented because of the potential for archaeological remains on the site. Boreholes have indicated the presence of stratified archaeological deposits to depths of between 1.1m and 3.9m below present ground level. The trend would suggest that on the eastern side of the site natural subsoil can be expected at a depth of between 1.1m and 1.5m as demonstrated by boreholes WS 1, 5, 6 and 7 and RB 3. the results as borehole WS4 where archaeological deposits persisted to a depth of 3.9m are likely to be the result of a localised negative feature such as a pit or ditch. The western side of the site appears to have evidence for a greater preservation with natural subsoil only being encountered at depths of between 2.2m and 3m as demonstrated by boreholes WS 2A, 3 and 8 and RB 1 and 2. Borehole RB1 encountered in situ human burials at a depth of approximately 2m below existing ground level. The remains recovered from the extracted core belonged to two separate articulated elements; one of the arm and the other of the ankle. For this reason they probably relate to two separate inhumation burials lying in close proximity to one another. This observation compliments the results from 2002 evaluation trench VII (see ECH3896) which also located human remains in the same part of the site and at a similar depth. Medieval ceramic building material was recovered from borehoels WS7 and RB3. these boreholes were located at different ends of the site and therefore indicate the widespread nature of the debris associated with the Medeival Friary. Roman ceramic building material was recovered from boreholes WS2, WS4, WS8, RB1 and RB2. These boreholes were located over a wide area of the site and therefore indicate the extensive nature of the debris associated with Roman occupation on the site.