Monument record 9004 - Possible Saxon Antler Processing Installations, 1 Abbey Green

On the east side of the excavation area represented by ECH2800, a pit (the later stage of which was stone-lined), a clay and stone sluice-like structure and a rubble and clay-filled hollow were recorded (4). The pit had two phases, the first was sub-rectangular, about 2.1m across by 0.65m deep, and a smaller, second phase was evidently cut into the secondary fill of the first pit. At that point, it was afforded a sandstone lining of squared blocks set in two courses bonded with clay (4). Adjoining the first phase of the pit was the sluice-like structure; a channel made of squared stones set upright in clay, in a channel c 0.3m wide and deep. The southern end was blocked by a stone, but the structure of the northern end is uncertain as it was not well preserved. The channel had a slight fall southwards, away from the pit (4). Just to the west of these features was the roughly circular hollow, 3m across and about 0.5m deep, and filled with clay fragments. It was concluded that these features were contemporary with an east – west road surface (CHER 9001). The excavators suggest that these features may have been associated with an antler carving industry because of large amounts of antler fragments found within them and nearby (but note that the fragments are part of secondary fills) (4). The large pit, stone-lined in its second phase, may have been for soaking antler prior to processing, while the hollow may have been a soak-away.

<1> McPeake J.C. Bulmer M & Rutter J.A, 1980, Excavations in the garden of No. 1 Abbey Green, Chester, 1975-77, McPeake J C Bulmer M & Rutter J 1980 63/14-37 (Article in Journal). SCH5924.

<2> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/287 Thacker A 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<3> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, /no.412 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<4> Ward, S. W., 1994, Saxon Occupation within the Roman Fortress: Sites Excavated, 1971-81 (Archaeological Service Excavation & Survey Reports) (Monograph). SCH5486.