Monument record 8164 - Roman 'military hiatus' layer at Hunter Street

In the Hunter Street area, excavations carried out between 1978 and 1982 identified some evidence of this period comprising quantities of second century material including pottery and metal working waste, however, it is not as clear as elsewhere in the fortress with no evidence of extensive pitting and deposition layers. Archaeological evaluation at Hunter Street in 1995 involving small test pits did identify a number of pits cutting internal floor surfaces within one of the barracks containing substantial quantities of ceramic and building material dated to the period 120-160AD. A general period of abandonment appears to have affected the entire fortress of Chester in the second century, it is represented in the archaeological record in a number of ways including an increase in refuse pitting and spreads of domestic and organic waste (often described as ‘dark earth’ or ‘black rubbish’ layers) but also with a general dereliction of structures through a lack of repair and maintenance. In many of the barrack blocks there is also evidence that they were converted into toilets for a substantial period of time. Although the evidence clearly indicates activity throughout the period, it is not characteristic of military activity and it has been suggested that it represents a period when the 20th legion was not based in the city but rather carrying out operations in the north of England. The term mid second century military hiatus period is generally used for this period in order to differentiate it from the later period of ‘dark earth’ in the late/post Roman to Saxon period.