Monument record 7418/2 - Roman rural settlement, Saighton Camp

<1> Northern Archaeological Associates, 2008, Trial Trenching Report, Phase 2 Development, Saighton Camp, Chester, R3385 (Client Report). SCH6935.

Traces of possible Roman occupation activity were recorded during archaeological trial trenching at Saighton Camp in 2007 in the south-east corner of the site. The evidence comprised a ditch [153] in trench 50 on a north-west to south-east alignment and measuring 1.17m wide and 0.52m deep, the fill of which contained a single sherd of mid to late 1st century AD pottery. In trench 49, ditch [156] was interpreted as a continuation of that found in trench 50. Ditch [156] measured 1.50m wide and 0.60m deep and was aligned southwest to northeast. It was believed that this ditch was again identified in trench 52 [ditch 178], trench 78 [ditch 140] and in trench 51 [ditch 126]. The evidence suggests a broadly rectangular enclosure approximately 80m east-west. Only a few fragments of pottery were recovered from the ditch sections dating from the mid 1st century AD to the 4th century AD.

A small number of features were identified within the north-west corner of the enclosure including a possible pit feature [144] sub-oval in form and measuring 1.85m by 0.80m and 0.85m deep. The fill of the pit largely consisted of black organic silt with pottery dating to the second and third century AD, bone and lumps of burnt clay. A second feature identified was a posthole [122] measuring 0.30m in diameter with a stone post pad at the base. A gully [195] was also encountered at the east end of trench 49 containing pottery of a mid to late 2nd century date and some bone. Trench 52 in the north-east corner of the enclosure also recorded a number of possible features of a likely Roman date outside the enclosure. This included two shallow gullies, tentatively interpreted as possible beam slots by the excavator, gully [116] was aligned north-west to south-east measuring 0.15m wide and 0.05m deep containing pottery of a second to third century date. Two further pits [131, 120] were also noted to the north of the gullies containing pottery of a mid first to second century date. Several trenches in the enclosure also recorded a greeny-grey subsoil up to 0.4m thick and sealed by a later deposit believed to be a medieval agricultural soil.

<2> Northern Archaeological Associates, 2016, INTERIM: Post Excavation Assessment. Saighton Camp, Chester (Saighton III, R3867 (Client Report). SCH8010.

As part of the continuing programme of archaeological evaluation at Saighton Camp, further work was undertaken between May 2014 and July 2015, in advance of re-development of the eastern portion of the site for housing (Phase III). As part of the Phase III investigation, an open area excavation was undertaken of the area known to contain settlement-related remains of Roman date, based on the results of previous trial trenching in 2007.

The excavation revealed part of an extensive and complex Roman period settlement, divided into a number of ditched enclosures. The north, west and eastern extents of the settlement were established by the excavation, but the site extends for an unknown distance to the south. It was clear that the enclosures did not represent a single phase of occupation, and that several elements had been re-dug and probably extended. The majority of the ditches followed a rough grid pattern, producing enclosures which were rectangular in shape. However, several ditches on the northern side of the excavated area were aligned at an angle to this general arrangement and were stratigraphically earlier.

Within the enclosures, post holes, gullies and sections of stone-packed foundations may represent the remains of rectilinear buildings and structures, although only one building (1335) was clearly defined. It lay at the northern edge of the settlement and comprised a rectangular post-built structure, 14m by 6.5m in size and made up of ten roughly-paired posts, with a possible internal partition. In addition to these potential structures, two ring gullies (553 and 607) lay in the southern part of the site and may represent roundhouses. Areas of cobblestones and paving were also recorded. Pits encountered in the excavated area were generally less than 2m in size and were 0.5-0.75m in depth; three pits were however notable for their considerably greater size and depth and may represent water collecting pits or areas of clay extraction.

A considerable range of artefact types and materials, dating from the late first to late fourth centuries AD, were recovered from the excavation, with pottery and building material, found in significant quantities. The site displays extensive evidence for use of Romanised ways of food preparation and eating (mortaria, amphora, samian, coarsewares, quern stone fragments), and for buildings using a range of stone and ceramic building materials, including box-flue tiles, indicating the presence of a hypocaust system nearby. Other finds of interest include fragments of incense burners and a votive cup; two miniature stone altars (often associated with military sites) which were found with the remains of a statue; glass vessel fragments; a radiate coin of third century date; a brooch fragment; a pair of tweezers; studs and hobnails. Organic material although present was of poor to average condition due to the acidic ground conditions.

Previous phases of the investigation have uncovered extensive field system remains of Roman date, which appear to link with the excavated settlement, see CHER 7418/1.

<3> Wood, P.N and Griffiths, D.G, 2022, Excavations at Chester. Roman land division and a probable villa in the hinterland of Deva, Archaeopress Roman Archaeology 93 (Monograph). SCH9332.

Published article discussing the findings of the archaeological programme of evaluation at Saighton Camp, undertaken between 2005/6 to 2015, which is located 3km south-east of the Roman legionary fortress of Chester (Deva Victrix). The excavations revealed part of a high-status settlement of second to fourth century date with an associated regular field system extending over 20 hectares (see CHER 7418/1).

The excavated settlement, which totalled circa 0.6 hectares in area, was only paritally excavated, with enclosures continuing for an unknown distance to the south in the area of the later moated site (CHER 1946). It appears to be an ancillary area to a much larger site which is thought to be a villa. This is the closest such site to Chester, and villas are notably rare in the region. The settlement comprised a series of rectangular enclosures, the ditches of which varied considerably in size, but were generally 1–2m in width and 1m or less deep. The Roman period features were considerably truncated in places due to later agricultural practices, also the demolition of army camp buildings in the later twentieth century and burial on site of large quantities of building materials. The truncation resulted in an absence of floor surfaces within structures and the loss of several important ditch intersections making it difficult to establish the development of the enclosure system. It is thought that the excavated area was principally agricultural in function and linked to the wider field system. The recovered metalwork, including wall hooks, part of a cart hub and evidence for small scale recycling of lead, was all typical of domestic or agricultural settings. Given that some of the enclosures had wide (3–5m) entrances, they could have functioned for corralling stock from the wider field system. Another option is use of the enclosures as horse paddocks.

Different phases of activity were identified with the earliest, Phase 1, represented by two ring gullies/potential roundhouses. One of these contained three fragments of wheel-thrown Roman pottery, together with a small quantity of hand-made pottery, indicating the features were Roman in date but their form continuing Iron Age traditions. Following phases were identified as primary occupation in the early to mid-second century AD (Phase 2); establishment of the enclosure system in the mid-second (Phase 3A), followed by some adaptation in the mid-third centuries AD (Phase 3B). The final phase, dating to the late third to fourth centuries AD, witnessed the decline and abandonment of the enclosures (Phase 4).

Identified structures comprised sub-circular, rectangular and irregular constructions, utilising beam slots, postholes and stone footings. Individual structures included four probable sub-circular buildings, two of which (699 and 808) were stratigraphically assigned to Phase 2 (early to mid-second century), the others were unphased (553 and 607), although the latter contained Roman coarseware pottery and cut infilled Phase 2 ditches. The continued use of circular or sub-circular structures in the Roman period is well known, both in this region and elsewhere. Three rectangular, post-built structures were recorded, one of which (671) is thought to have been a Phase 2 feature, one (977) belonged to Phase 3, and building 1335, which was late third or fourth-century (Phase 4). Additionally, two short lengths of gully (883 and 913), assigned to Phase 2 on the basis of pottery evidence, may have formed eaves-drip gullies around part of a small sub-rectangular building whose full extent has been lost to extensive later disturbance. Three short lengths of linear stone-packed foundation (1104, 1128 and 1248) lay near the north-western edge of the settlement; rather than relating to a single building they seem to represent the discrete foundations for two (or possibly three) platforms, supporting stone or substantial timber constructions. Some of
the excavated structures appeared to be ancillary or agricultural in nature, whilst others might represent domestic dwellings.

The settlement uncovered at Saighton Camp appears to be the northern portion of a large, well organised, rural Roman site, linked to an agricultural hinterland. The arrangement of enclosures and buildings, and their relationship with the trackways of the field system do not indicate a roadside settlement of the type seen at Heronbridge, nor does it appear to have been a variation of the enclosed farmstead observed in the region. It is thought likely that the area to the south contained the centre of the Roman settlement, potentially a villa, including one or more structures constructed with dressed stone and probably including a hypocaust heating system. This could explain the range of stone and ceramic building materials recovered, the finds of the statue, altars, pila, the wide range of ceramics and other finds.