Roman mosaic may lie beneath Chester’s Dewa Experience building

Feb 15 2010 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

ARCHAEOLOGISTS says there is the tantalising prospect of a Roman mosaic beneath the Dewa Roman Experience premises in the city centre.

A ongoing dig Pierpoint Lane site, off Bridge Street, has so far exposed an eight metres section of Roman wall next to a courtyard along with the remains of a flue.

The wall would have formed part of a building, of unknown purpose, leading to speculation about what may lie behind the wall in the centre of the former premises.

Archaeologist Mike Emery has been told by building owner Peter Dentith that someone who helped construct the 1960s building on the site insists a Roman mosaic was found at the time “but quickly covered up”.

Mike said: “It’s not beyond the realms of possibility we might find one.”

There are plans for a 58-bed hotel at the site but any significant structures and finds will be accommodated within the design, possibly through the use of glass floors.

The function of the mystery Roman building at the centre of the dig is unknown but in the past it has been suggested it could have been a hospital which would make sense being so close to the site of the Roman baths .

If this is the case, the archaeologists would expect to find related medical artefacts such as certain types of pottery. The only item discovered so far is a decorative lady’s hairpin made from bronze.

Mike says the quality of the masonry in the 1.4m foundations would suggest the building was significant.

He added: “How often do you see a Roman wall standing in Chester?”