Monument record 8506 - Possible pre fortress earth rampart at the site of the Elliptical Building

Traces of a possible rampart feature predating the late first century Roman fortress was recorded during archaeological investigations by Prof Newstead in 1939. The evidence comprised a narrow chase cut into the rock on a north-west to south-east alignment. This feature was again encountered further to the south east in 1965 where the chase was recorded to be 0.38m wide and set within a more substantial linear feature on the same alignment but 1.5m wide and 0.45m deep. (1)

Although the interpretation of these features are tentative, it is believed they form part of the timber base for an early earth rampart (1)

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