Site Event/Activity record ECH6757 - Former Argos Store, 105-109 Foregate Street, Chester: Archaeological Evaluation Report

Three archaeological test pits were excavated in August 2019 on the site of the former Argos store, 105-109 Foregate Street, Chester. The three test pits measured 1.5m square and were excavated to a maximum depth of 1.2m below ground level. Two test pits were located inside the former Argos store, one placed up against the known location of a pile cap and associated ground beams, whilst the other was placed away from the pile caps and ground beams. One test pit was excavated in the service yard to the rear of the former Argos store. Results demonstrated that the soil sequence in the trenches was fairly uniform. Natural geology was not encountered in any of test pits, due to the presence of modern structures, services and the limitations of depth. Archaeological remains were encountered in all three test pits. In Test Pits 1 and 3, below modern made ground and leveling deposits, silt and rubble deposits containing Roman ceramics were identified between 0.6m and 0.7m below ground level. Within Test Pit 2, the archaeological remains were identified as dating to the post medieval period, at a depth of 0.6m. The archaeological remains in Test Pit 2 were shown to be heavily truncated by the modern pile caps and ground beams. A small assemblage of ceramics and animal bone were recovered during the evaluation. The majority of the recovered ceramics dating to the Roman period, probably mid to late 2nd to early 3rd century AD. Several sherds of Post-medieval ceramics were also recovered. (1)