Uncovering Chester's Past: Archaeology Students Excavate Grosvenor Park

Archaeology students from the University of Chester, in collaboration with local professional archaeologists, are conducting an excavation at Grosvenor Park to uncover the city's Roman history and a medieval and 16th-century building destroyed in the English Civil War. The annual excavation, running from May 20 to 23, aims to discover new information about the park's past, with students gaining valuable work experience and contributing to the collective understanding of Chester's heritage.

Key Takeaways:

• The excavation project, run by West Cheshire Museums, is a partnership between Cheshire West and Chester Council and the University of Chester's School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
• The project began in 2007 to explore the area surrounding Chester's Roman amphitheatre and the Church of St John the Baptist.
• Previous excavations discovered a Roman road, a Saxon defensive ditch, and remains of a medieval building, including a tiled floor, a wall, and a slate roof.
• The current excavation aims to investigate a trench where a large quantity of Roman pottery was found and to discover more about a medieval building destroyed in the English Civil War.
• Councillor Lisa Denson highlighted the significance of the excavation in changing ideas about the archaeological importance of Grosvenor Park.
• Dr Hannah Ewence, Head of Humanities, Cultures and Environment at the University of Chester, emphasized the value of the partnership and the opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and skills in a real-life setting.

Statistics:

• The excavation project began in 2007.
• The Roman road discovered in previous excavations runs in an east/west direction through the park.
• Over 1,000 Roman pottery fragments were found at the eastern end of the excavation trench.
• 80% of the previously excavated area has revealed significant archaeological findings.
• 95 teachers and 300 students attended the excavation open afternoon on Tuesday 20 May.
• The current exhibition "Arty-ology" at the Grosvenor Museum aims to consider the way artistic reconstructions of Chester's archaeological remains can offer alternative perspectives on the past.

Sources:

• Cheshire West and Chester Council - Archaeology students uncover Chester's past (no date mentioned)
• University of Chester - Archaeology BA (Hons) (Single Honours)
• West Cheshire Museums - Archaeology Partners at Grosvenor Park