Site Event/Activity record ECH6192 - INTERIM: Post Excavation Assessement. Saighton Camp, Chester (Saighton III)

As part of a continuing programme of archaeological evaluation, dating from 2005/6, further evaluation was undertaken between May 2014 and July 2015, at Saighton Camp, a former British Army training camp, near Chester, in advance of re-development of the eastern portion (Phase III) for housing. The work comprised both monitoring of ground remediation on land formerly occupied by army buildings and a parade ground, together with the excavation of previously-identified remains in a defined area near the south-east corner of the former camp. In addition, a number of building foundations at the northern and southern edges of the development were preserved in situ. This report contains a summary of the results of the investigations, assessments of each category of recovered artefact and palaeoenvironmental samples, reviews of the archaeological resource with the potential for the investigations to address areas of research, and a methods statement for the further stages of work. The Phase III archaeological investigation has revealed part of an extensive and complex Roman period settlement, divided into a number of enclosures. An open area excavation was undertaken of the area known to contain settlement-related remains of Roman date, based on the results of previous trial trenching (2008, 2014). The excavated area initially measured 100m by 75m, but was subsequently increased to approximately 120m by 100m (circa 0.6ha), due to the presence of more extensive remains.The north, west and eastern extents of the settlement were established by the excavation, but the site extends for an unknown distance to the south, beyond the limit of the present work. The site displays extensive evidence for use of Romanised ways of food preparation and eating, and for buildings using a range of stone and ceramic building materials, including the remains of a probable hypocaust elsewhere within the wider settlement, outside of the excavated area. In addition, a number of items (stonework including two altars, together with ceramics) suggest religious practices and ceremonies were carried out here. Assessment of the recovered artefacts suggests that the site was occupied during the Roman period from the late 1st century until the late 4th century AD, and possibly beyond. Investigation of the remains of Roman rural settlement close to Chester has been rare. The types of overtly 'Roman' materials used or consumed on the site, and the possible religious activity mark out the settlement as unusual and significant. The excavations at Saighton were therefore an important opportunity to add to existing knowledge of the range and diversity of settlement so close to the important Roman site at Chester (Deva). The post-excavation assessment has established that the archaeology encountered is of sufficient complexity that further analysis of selected categories of information including recovered artefacts is required to more fully understand the date, development and nature of the settlement discovered, and to further our understanding of settlement both in the hinterland of Chester and the wider region during the Roman period. A final report/article, detailing results of all phases of the archaeological evaluation and analysis, will be prepared; the structure of this report is described as an appendix of this report. Previous phases of investigation have uncovered extensive field system remains of Roman date, which appear to link with the excavated settlement, and it is intended that the final report will reference these elements. (1) Published account (2022) of the results of the programme of archaeological mitigation at Saighton Camp undertaken between 2005 and 2015, which revealed important and extensive Roman period remains within the area of development. The site is located 3km from the Roman legionary fortress of Chester (Deva Victrix). A combination of trial trenching, watching brief monitoring and excavation across the area of proposed development revealed the remains of a high-status settlement of second to fourth century date (CHER 7418/2), together with an associated regular field system (CHER 7418/1) laid out over more than 20 hectares. The excavated settlement appears to be an ancillary area to a much larger site, the centre of which lies to the south in the area of the moated site (CHER 1946) and is believed to be a villa. This is the closest such site to Chester and villas are notably rare in the region. The field system runs parallel with a modern road (Sandy Lane), suggesting the latter is a Roman route. The field system was probably laid out by the legion at Deva as part of the lands they controlled around the fortress. (2)