Monument record 8008 - Buried Soil at Delamere Street

A layer of cultivated soil containing Roman period materials, observed in test pits at various locations across the land to the immediate north of Delamere Street. This Roman horizon was undulating, and in places heavily truncated by later activity. Where it was well preserved, it was a thick layer, seemingly the result of dumping and agricultural activity, and contained pottery dating generally to the second century, some ceramic building material and a silver denaris (1).

The same sort of deposit was encountered in a following excavation (ECH4694) that sampled a smaller area more heavily (2).

<1> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2004, Land Bounded by Delamere Street, Upper Northgate Street and St. Oswald's Way, Chester. (Site 6 Gorse Stacks Development) An Archaeological Evaluation., R2980 (Client Report). SCH5299.

<2> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2008, Land Bounded by Delamere Street, Upper Northgate Street and St Oswald's Way, Chester Further Archaeological Evaluation, R3016 (Client Report). SCH5368.

<3> Chester City Council Archaeology Service, 2006, The Past Uncovered (Newsletter). SCH6042.