Monument record 1970/6 - Roman temporary camp at Upton Recreation Centre

<1> National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside, 1996, An Archaeological Evaluation at Upton Recreation Centre, Upton-by-Chester. (Client Report). SCH4058.

Parchmark, first photographed in August 1995 (see source 2), of a rectangular enclosure with straight sides and rounded corners showing in playing fields south of Upton Grange moated site. Rephotographed in 1996. An archaeological evaluation was undertaken in August 1996 in advance of the development of of a multi-purpose synthetic pitch and extension of associated boundaries which impacted the southern area of the enclosure. The enclosure ditch was investigated in three areas it had a steep-sided profile and pointed base. Three highly decayed squared timbers were seen in the early fills of the ditch, which may indicated the deliberate dismantling and disposal of temporary structures within the enclosure. A radiocarbon date of 1890+/- 110BP (AD 120 cal) was obtained from a sample of charcoal from the lowest fill in the ditch. A row of 3 small post holes was found roughly parallel to the ditch and c 4.2 - 4.7m from the inner edge of the ditch. The largest had pebbles as packing stones and probably represent a paliside line along the forward edge of the bank. Secondary ditch fills contained 18th C material suggesting feature had remained open well into the post-medieval period. Analysis of pollen from the ditch provided evidence of a mosaic of heathland and wet and dry woodland (oak, alder and hazel). Above this is less heather and more alder and hazel suggesting a period of regeneration. Samples above this are dominated by heather perhaps tying in with the archaeological evidence.

<2> Various, Aerial photographs, Collens J & Philpott R A 1995 and 1996 (Aerial Photograph). SCH128.

<3> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1970-Present, Britannia, Vol 29, p.341-353, 1998, Philpott R A (Journal/Periodical). SCH445.

No. 6 . Report on the Recent excavations at this site. A radiocarbon determination was obtained from a sample of unbraded charcoal from the lowest organic rich fill of the ditch. This yielded a date of 1890 +- 110 BP with a calibrated result of cal BC 115 - cal AD 405. One of a group of a series of subrectangular enclosures within a few kilometres of Chester.

A discussion about the interpretation of these features can be found in this article. New discoveries from aerial photography and excavation support a Roman Military origin.

<4> Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1970-Present, Britannia, Vol 28, p.422-3, 1997 (Journal/Periodical). SCH445.

<5> Cheshire County Council, 1993-2008, Cheshire Archaeology News, 4, Spring 1997 (Newsletter). SCH4366.