Site Event/Activity record ECH6422 - Archaeological test pits at the Amphitheatre and Newgate, Chester

Excavation of the cable trench connecting the new lighting columns LC22 and LC23A to existing power supply was undertaken to a depth of approximately 0.30m below current ground level. The monitoring of this excavation did not reveal any features or deposits of archaeological significance and, for the greater length of the excavated trench, the new cable ducting was inserted alongside an existing service duct where the ground had been previously disturbed. Excavatoin pf 3 pits for lighting columns. It is clear that high quality archaeology survives around the periphery of the amphitheatre, but the locations and depth of the works associated with the installation of the new lighting columns, and the new ducting, have resulted in no major archaeological difficulties. In the area of pit LC22 there is a c.500mm depth of overburden/modern archaeology before significant features/deposits are encountered. In LC23A the interesting sequence of surfaces is sealed/protected by thick soil layer (105/6), but it is prudent to note that context (105) is shallow (at a depth of 300mm or higher below pavement level) and produced only Roman period finds. In the area of LC26 a potentially interesting early post-medieval feature (?ditch/pit) lies sealed beneath later activity at a depth of c. 600-700mm below current ground level.