Monument record 8466 - Roman bronze-working debris at Eastgate Street

Archaeological investigations at the Dark Row, Chester’s fully enclosed Eastgate Street Row, recorded a series of dumped deposits overlying the earlier stone structure comprising pitting activity and refuse spreads forming a layer approximately 0.50m thick. Identifiied as Phase 3b of the report, it broadly coincides with the mid second century military hiatus layer. Although dating evidence was vague, it would appear this phase lasted until around 360 AD.

This layer was rich in pottery and other artefacts, the pottery providing a useful dating sequence suggesting a period of deposition from the mid second century into the late fourth century. Mixed in with the ceramic evidence was a number of crucibles and a cupel along with fragments of carbonised wood suggestive of metalworking in the area (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.