Monument record 8381 - Roman Cultivation Soils and Buried Soil Horizons, Edgar's Field

During an archaeological evaluation in the eastern part of Edgar’s field in 2009, a series of buried sediment horizons and at least one cultivation soil containing Roman period finds dating to between the first and second centuries were recorded (1). Several distinct layers were identified, although the finds are all broadly contemporary. The excavators speculated that these soils developed by using areas of the early quarry nearby, that had been subsequently backfilled by the third century (1).

While carrying out a previous excavation in 1927 (ECH3098), Newstead seems to have also identified these layers of sediment; described as an 'excellent loamy soil', they contained pottery that could be dated to the late second century and a few elements of third or fourth century pottery, in addition to a fragment of an inscribed stone (RiB i 465) that appears to refer to imperial titles (3).

<1> L - P Archaeology, 2010, Archaeological Evaluation Report for land at Edgar's Field, Chester, R2944 (Client Report). SCH5245.

<2> L - P Archaeology, 2010, Archaeological Mitigation Report, Edgar's Field, Chester, R2991 (Client Report). SCH5313.

<3> Newstead, Robert (Prof.), 1926, Records of Archaeological Finds at Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5955.