Monument record 8462 - Pre Roman soil deposits at Eastgate Street

Archaeological investigations at the Dark Row, Chester’s fully enclosed Eastgate Street Row, recorded traces of early Roman activity prior to the construction of the fortress in around AD79 (Phase 1 of the report).

This phase of activity comprised a series of soil horizons overlying the natural bedrock and culminating in the topsoil in existence during the mid first century [Deposit 105]. Although no finds were recovered from these layers they predate the earliest construction activity for the Roman fortress. A palaeo-environmental sample taken from the topsoil deposit recorded some charred cereal grains, a fruit stone and a hazelnut fragment.

The palaeo-environmental evidence from the pre fortress topsoil is suggestive of domestic refuse that may indicate either late prehistoric or early Roman activity. (1)

<1> Matthews K J, 1995, Excavations at Chester The Evolution of the Heart of the City 3-15 Eastgate Street (Monograph). SCH6151.

<2> Chester Archaeology, 1990, 11-13 Eastgate Street, Chester (formerly Owen Owen): An Archaeological Evaluation, R2084 (Client Report). SCH4116.