Source/Archive record SCH8596 - The Roman building materials from excavations at Chester's Roman amphitheatre

A full analysis of the Roman building materials including ceramic building material, plaster, cement mix (mortars) and earth mix (daub), recovered from excavations at Chester amphitheatre between 2004—6. Although most of the material does not relate to the structure of the amphitheatre itself, it formed a major component of the occupation deposits around the building, and of the dumped material reused in the construction of the seating banks of the first amphitheatre. The assemblage demonstrates the quantity, quality and variety of building materials in use in Chester during the first three decades of the existence of the Roman fort and canabae. The recent excavations were carried out in three separate areas, designated A, B, and C. The three open areas were excavated with different aims and objectives. Area A was completely excavated, examining all periods from prehistory to the 20th century, with particular emphasis on the phasing of the two successive amphitheatres. Area B was excavated to the top of Roman levels and no further, in order to examine the relationship between the medieval church of St John and the amphitheatre, and Area C was also completely excavated in order to examine the stratification of the arena fills from the Roman period to the present. During the analysis phase of the work, the archaeology of the site was divided into 21 Phases, which were rationalised into 8 Periods, ranging from the Prehistoric to Post Medieval. (1)