Monument record 8505 - Pre fortress features at the site of the Elliptical Building

Archaeological investigations on the site of the Old Market Hall (currently the Forum Shopping Centre) in 1963/4 identified a series of stake holes and post settings in trench II. (1)

The stake holes were recorded on a north-south alignment to the north of the substantial ditch (CHER 8504), each feature comprised a small (0.20m diameter) hole forming a closely set linear arrangement over a distance of approximately 3m. (1)

As with the ditch feature, no finds were recovered from the stake holes, however they predated the foundation cuts from the elliptical building and may represent a boundary feature associated with the pre Flavian fortress. (1)

<1> Mason, D. J. P., 2000, Excavations at Chester: The Elliptical building: An image of the Roman world?, p7-9 (Monograph). SCH6158.