Monument record 9023 - Dark Earth Layer, Hunter Street School

Found over a relatively large area between Hunter St. and Princess St. (excavated over several years represented by ECH2848 and ECH2843), was an expanse of the co-called dark earth layer; recorded at several locations throughout Chester, in between Roman and medieval horizons. At this location, its depth varied between 0.35m and 0.5m (4), and was a largely homogeneous horizon of a dark organic sediment with occasional sandy patches. The layer was present everywhere where there were Saxon period features (CHER 9020 – CHER 9022), and its extent was considered to have been the same as that of the compound that these features might represent. Saxon period finds were recovered from the deposit, but it should be noted that this horizon was relatively close to the modern ground surface, and was heavily truncated by medieval and later activities (4). Stratigraphically, it post-dated the latest Roman horizons, which saw the demolition of structures in this area, and radiocarbon samples produced dates from the late Saxon period (4).

<1> The Society for Medieval Archaeology, 1957-Present, Medieval Archaeology, Youngs S M & Clark J 1981 25/167 (Journal/Periodical). SCH2131.

<2> multiple authors, 1980/81, Excavation Reports and Sites Observed, 7/43-44 Ward S 1980 (Article in Journal). SCH5806.

<3> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/288 Thacker A 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

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

<5> Grosvenor Museum Excavations Newsletter, 1979, Summary of Excavations in Chester (Newsletter). SCH6263.

<6> Strickland, T.J., 1983, Chester: Excavations in the Princess Street / Hunter Street Area, 1978-1982. A First Report on Discoveries of the Roman Period (Article in Journal). SCH5815.