Monument record 8713 - Roman floors, occupation layers and hearth, 87-89 Foregate Street

<1> L-P Archaeology, 2021, Archaeological Evaluation Report: 87-89 Foregate Street, Chester, R4517 (Client Report). SCH9055.

A series of clay surfaces and occupation soils of Roman date were recorded during an evaluation (Trench 6) within 87-89 Foregate Street in 2020. A possible hearth was also recorded. The top of Roman archaeology was encountered 0.6m below ground level (20.91m OD).

Layer (606) was a dark grey/brown sandy silt up to 0.5m thick which contained charcoal flecks and was rich in sherds of Roman pottery. This sealed layers of yellow/brown and red/brown clays. Also recorded, was a sub-rectangular arrangement of sandstone blocks (627) measuring 0.56m east-west by 1m north-south. The feature was dominated by two large rectangular sandstone blocks set on edge and at right angles to one another; it is thought to represent a potential domestic hearth.

The deposits recorded were similar to the alternating layers of clay and silt observed in Trenches 6 and 7 (see CHER 8713 and CHER 8714) which have also been interpreted as a series of internal clay floors and occupation soils.