Source/Archive record SCH4019 - Land Adjacent to Riverside, Nantwich, Cheshire.

Evaluation by Earthworks Archaeology on land adjacent to Riverside, Nantwich, 19 & 27 August 1997. 7 trenches excavated, mainly in N part of site. Trench 2 was located c.12m from N boundary of site and revealed a ditch over 1.5m wide and c.1m deep, with clearing out slot at base. Finds from fills suggest 2nd C AD date. Possible sub-square posthole c. 260mm wide x 200mm deep was cut into top fill of ditch containing a sherd of 2nd-4th C Roman pottery. Roman pottery also recovered from trench 6. Pottery suggests ditch was filling up during 2nd C. Samian, mortaria, Severn Valley, black burnished, orange & greyware found & med & postmed pottery. Ditch may mark extent of Roman occupn found on site to N (RN: 177/ 1). Salt glaze adhering to frags of fired clay found in ditch indicate nearby salt production.