Archaeologists work with public health team at Chester site mentioned in Domesday Book

This article originally appeared on Culture24.

Evidence from Norman Conquest or Roman artefacts could be discovered at site mentioned in Domesday Book

Archaeologists and residents of Blacon, a suburb of Chester, have begun examining one of the area’s oldest sites in a health-friendly community project which could unearth remains from around 1,000 years ago.

A public health team is supporting the work around St Theresa’s Catholic Primary School, where members of the public are joining award-winning archaeologists from locally-based experts Big Heritage.

“This spot is one of the oldest parts of Blacon that we know of,” says Jo Kirton, who is managing the investigation.

Watch a video about the excavations



“It used to be the location of Blacon Hall, as noted on a map from 1847, and could possibly be the location of earlier occupation. We do know that the area known as Blacon was inhabited at the time of Domesday Book, in AD 1086, as it is mentioned in the document.

“We are not looking for anything specific. It's largely an exploratory project.

We will be using a method called test pitting - 1x1 metre trenches - which is well suited to investigating urban sites. It allows us to build a picture of concentrations of artefacts from particular time periods. If any area has a particularity high concentration of artefacts from a specific period this may suggest that it was the focus for activity in that period.

“We know that there was post-medieval activity in and around the school from the 18th century, as Blacon Hall was built and stood until the 20th century, so it is highly likely that we will find traces of activity associated with the house, its outhouses, orchard and associated agricultural activity.”

A survey team from Bradford joined the group to launch the work with a day of geophysical detecting. The project also aims to target “health inequalities” through physical activity, mental stimulation and social interaction.

“The earliest historical document we have notes of settlement in Blacon at the time of the Norman Conquest, so there is always the potential to find evidence from this period,” suggests Kirton.

“A Roman coin was also found in the research area in the 1950s, so there is the possibility that we may find similar artefacts during the excavation.”

• Visit Dig Blacon for more and to take part.
  

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Three museums to discover the history of Cheshire in:

Chester Roman Amphitheatre
The largest Roman amphitheatre in Britain, partially excavated. It was used for entertainment and military training by the 20th Legion, based at the fortress of Deva.

Cheshire Military Museum, Chester
Follow the exploits of the Regiments of Cheshire and their travels across the world during many great battles. Learn about the wars they fought, experience life in the trenches for a World War One soldier, and immerse yourself in the history of the soldiers.

Anson Engine Museum, Poynton
On the site of the old Anson Colliery in Poynton, this museum is the result of Les Cawley and Geoff Challinor's years of hard work collecting and restoring engines. Opened to the public in 1989, the museum is open one weekend a month from Easter Sunday until the end of October.

Source: http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art535250-archaeologists-public-health-chester-domesday-book