Below is an archive of all the Roman finds excavated from the Amphitheatre Site. The Roman period is generally thought to last up until around 400-450AD.
A bronze brooch known as a headstud type, so-called because of the small stud at the top of the curve of the brooch. They were usually decorated with brightly coloured enamel, demonstrating the skill of British metalworkers in the first and second centuries. The ring or loop on the brooch indicates that it was one of a pair, connected to the other brooch with a chain. Although sometimes highly decorated, the purpose of these brooches was to secure clothing such as tunics, cloaks and capes.
In Roman times artificial light came in two main forms – oil lamps and candles. We are fortunate this year to have found fragments of two lamps. These were round covered containers with a nozzle at one end and a handle at the other. Unfortunately we only have the nozzle from this one, which is blackened from use but it probably would have been about 15 cm long.
Lamps were used by filling the body with olive oil through a hole in the top and then lighting a wick, inserted in the nozzle
This is a Roman copper alloy hairpin from Trench A. Though slightly bent, it is complete and is approximately 90mm long. The top is decorated with a criss-cross pattern. Pins of this type were used to secure and decorate the hair arrangements of women and girls
A samian ware bowl or cup made in Gaul at the end of the first or beginning of the second century AD.
Two of the figures are gladiators – one or both of which are of the lightly-armed murmillo type, with a shield, arm-guard, dagger or short sword, helmet, greaves (leg armour) and a loincloth. The other figures are two small cupids above a dolphin.
Finding the pot at the amphitheatre and the use of gladiators could mean that the bowl was intended for a ritual function or possibly a small souvenir for sale.
This intaglio from the amphitheatre is dated to the second century and shows a satyr (a god of the woodlands) holding a stick in one hand and his quarry, possibly a bird, in the other.
Intaglios or gems are engraved on hard stone (or moulded in glass) and set into rings of gold, silver, iron and bronze. They were worn by both men and women and as well as being jewels they were of practical significance – being used like a seal to secure correspondence and items of value and to witness documents. The sealings would have been made from lead or wax.
Originally decorated with coloured enamel, a substance related to glass. The geometric pattern of triangles represents the sun’s rays and is a version of the imported sunburst pattern which was introduced to Britain from Gaul and taken up by British metalworkers. This pattern was popular on items such as dress fasteners and brooches in the first and second centuries AD. It is possible that Mithraism, with its cult of the unconquerable sun, was largely responsible for the pattern’s popularity with the army.
The small loop, now broken, suggests that this brooch was probably one of a pair, connected by a fine bronze chain. The wearing of brooches in pairs seems to be a particularly British characteristic.
This fragment of Roman roof tile has grooved marks made with the tips of fingers when the clay was still quite soft. It is thought that theses marks were used either to identify individual tile makers or a particular group of workers at a tilery.
Rim of a fine white 'eggshell' ware cup, with rouletted decoration. Made at Holt in north Wales circa AD 90/100 - 130. (It is called 'eggshell' ware because of the exceptionally thin walls of the vessel.)
Part of the rim and spout of a Roman ceramic mortarium or mixing bowl. The inner surface would have been studded with grits for grinding food such as nuts, seeds and grain, before cooking.
It was made in northern Gaul and imported into Chester in the first century.
A small piece of Roman mosaic glass vessel. This effect was achieved by fusing rods of differently coloured glass, often in the shape of a flower
Corner of a box-flue tile. The exterior surface is combed to aid the keying of wall plaster. Box-flue tiles were used to line the walls of centrally heated buildings eg public bath-houses and the homes of the rich and powerful. Stacked one above the other, they formed a hollow pipe, through which warm air, heated in the hypocaust, could flow up the walls as well as below the floors.
The neck and part of the handle of a Roman amphora or large storage jar. Made in the Mediterranean, it would have been used to transport wine, fish sauce, olive oil and dates.
A Roman finger ring made from a copper alloy.
Four fragments form a Roman mortaria - a sort of mixing / grinding bowl. (back to top of page)
Three sherds of Roman vessel glass. The clear glass is possibly part of a flagon, while the blue glass possibly part of a jar. (back to top of page)
This is part of a bronze spoon, with a long handle, used to extract cosmetics from flasks or jars. They were often double-ended instruments. The other end, sometimes wrapped in material, could be used to apply or remove cosmetics from the face, particularly around the eyes. (back to top of page)
Although there is only a small fragment, the grips fit perfectly in the hand.
We have recovered various items of Roman arms and armour over the years from Chester - daggers, scabbards, the cheekpiece of a helmet, and even a sword - but these have been represented only by the metal components: the bone fittings that originally adorned them and made them usable tend to be rarer. The sword handle is only a small fragment from a post-Roman context, so it need not have any significance for the history of the amphitheatre: only further excavation will tell. (back to top of page)
Sherds from a piece Roman black-gloss tableware, possibly of the first half of the first century AD (Imitation terra nigra). (back to top of page)
Some fragments of Roman glass (back to top of page)
Roman South Gaulish samian dish and bowl sherds, late first century AD.
The bowl sherd is decorated with a running lion, possibly an allusion to beast-hunts that were held in the amphitheatre. (back to top of page)
Earlier this week the most exciting find to date was extracted from the Amphitheatre Site.
The archaeologists have unearthed a sizable piece of worked bone that would have been part of a Roman sword handle. In the picture above you can see Senior City Archaeologist Dan Garner holding the fascinating find next to a modern day replica.
The similarity is very striking, as you can see from the close up below.
This is the first evidence for a sword of this period discovered in Chester, and is the type that would have been carried by Roman Legionaries - though the fact it was discovered in an Amphitheatre site does lead to some exciting possibilities of its history!
If you are in the Chester area on Saturday 17 July the find will be on display, along with many others, at National Archaeology Day at the Amphitheatre Site. (back to top of page)
This third coin [above] is the first Roman coin found at the site during the Project. It is dated at around AD341-346, the time of Emperor Constantius II. It is actually thought this could be an example of a Roman forgery, and not an officially minted coin! (back to top of page)
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