Monument record 8475 - Roman Bedrock-cut Pit, South of Dee House

During an archaeological watching brief and evaluation carried out to the south of the Dee House in 2001, a number of deposits and features of Roman date were recorded (1). Along the southern boundary of the site, adjacent to the northern wall of the Bishop’s Palace building, was a pit cut into the sandstone bedrock, was square in plan with rounded corners, and the sides tapered steeply into an oval, flat base (1). The primary fill contained a fragment of a rough cast Lyon ware beaker (AD 40 – 70) and its secondary fills contained a quantity of pottery dating to between the first and second centuries, animal bone and fragments of ceramic building material (1). Based on the finds, this phase of activity at this location was dated broadly to between AD 80 – 120 (1).

<1> Gifford and Partners, 2001, Report on an archaeological excavation and watching brief at Dee House, Chester, R2665 (Client Report). SCH4776.