Monument record 7422/2 - Late Iron Age/ Early Roman Structures, Features and Finds,Chester Business Park Excavations

<1> Network Archaeology, 2004, Chester Business Park, MBNA Lakeside, Chester: Archaeological Excavation, Areas F1-10, R14 and R15, p.43 (Client Report). SCH6301.

During excavations at the Chester Business Park (MBNA Development) two Romano-British structures were recorded. Both were comprised of a ring of postholes surrounded by interrupted ring ditches or drip gullies. The structures are thought to have been used for grain storage, although Structure 1 may have been occupied at some point as there were the remains of a hearth to the eastern side of it.
It is possible that these buildings were contemporary or that one succeeded the other. Cobbled surfaces located around Structure 1 are thought to be broadly contemporary with its use. Both buildings appear to be respected by the field system (Phase 4 in the sites sequence) lying just to the north.

<2> Network Archaeology, 2016, DRAFT: Excavations Of a Late Prehistoric and Romano-British Agricultural Site (Unpublished Report). SCH8071.

Structure 1 cut pit 1887 and well 1959, and was probably the remains of a round house. It was represented by an outer ring ditch presumably relating to an eves drip gully, and a concentric, inner arrangement of curvilinear slots, believed to mark the layout of the wall of the .
Structure 2 - A curvilinear gully (2056) enclosed an area approximately 11m in diameter, located c. 3m to the east of structure 1.

<3> Garner, Dan, 2024, Chester Business Park 2003 A Summary of the Excavation of a Late Prehistoric and Roman Rural Site, vol 94. p 63-97 (Article in Journal). SCH9777.

Period 3: Late Iron Age/early Roman. The main structures identified in earlier reports are described along with some additional interpretations by the author. Structures 1 and 3 were identified in earlier reports (where they are numbered 2 and 1 respectively).
Structure 1 was a roundhouse with a diameter of 11m. A curvilinear gully was excavated, it produced no finds and was interpreted as an eaves drip.
Structure 2 was three postholes forming corners of a possible square structure.
Structure 3 comprised a roundhouse with a diameter of 7m. An outer curvilinear gully intpretead as an eaves drip produced fifty three sherds of Roman pottery of first to sendond century date. Structure 3 also contained a possible hearth structure.
Structure 4 comprised a collection of four postholes forming a rectangular strucutre. Sherds of a Wilderspool flagon of late first to second century date were found in on eof these postholes. Possible four post granary structure.
Structure 5 is a speculative interpretation of a possible rectangular strip building could be represented by a series of parallel gullies and posthole alignment.
Published article contains plans of the excavation showing the position of these structure.