Monument record 8472 - Amphitheatre, Central Timber Structure and Axial Kerbed Pathway

This monument refers to the timber structure situated in the centre of the arena of the amphitheatre site, interpreted as a possible saluting platform or other feature of the second phase of the amphitheatre by Thompson (4) following its exposure in the 1960s (ECH2809). Since then however, based on a re-excavation of the central area between 2004 – 2007 (see ECH5048), it has been concluded that this structure relates to the final period in which the amphitheatre was still in use, or at least when it was still open (3).

During those most recent excavations, no fewer than six stratigraphic phases of pits and postholes were found in the arena, and only the final phase could be understood with any degree of confidence, when a small timber building was constructed (3). The excavators state that there was little doubt that this timber building was part of the same structure recorded by Thompson, although they stress that no dating evidence has been recovered in direct association with this structure (3). The structure was described by Thompson as consisting of four lines of post holes, aligned north – south, each approximately 0.3m in diameter but slightly irregular. It appeared to be approached by a form of pathway from the north entrance, represented by two parallel kerbs, overlying an axial drain which also appeared to respect this timber construction (please also see description for CHER 8471) (4).

Note that this feature, conventionally thought to have been Roman and therefore included in this description, may have been a post-Roman construction (preliminary report [3] suggests that it may have dated from the end of the Roman use of the arena to about the eleventh or twelfth centuries).

<1> Anon, 1932, Schedule of the Roman Remains of Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5712.

<2> Newstead, R (Prof.), 1932, The Roman Amphitheatre at Chester (Article in Journal). SCH5708.

<3> Wilmot, T & Garner, D, 2009, Excavations on the Legionary Amphitheaters of Chester (Deva), Britain (Article in Monograph). SCH5191.

<4> Thompson A, 1975, The excavations of the Roman amphitheatre at Chester (Article in Journal). SCH6162.