Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society 86

This paper examines a residual assemblage of flint, chert and stone tools recovered during the excavation of a multi-period site located within Chapel Field, Poulton. Analysis has revealed early Mesolithic activity on the plateau overlooking the floodplain of the Pulford Brook and River Dee in the form of seasonal hunter-gatherer camps. The presence of possible late Mesolithic, early Neolithic and Bronze Age tools indicates reuse of the site. Further finds of a Neolithic polished stone axe and decorated stone plaque are notable for their rarity in this part of Cheshire. The level of interpretation that can be attained is limited by the absence of stratified material but is nevertheless important given that the nature of early prehistoric land use is still poorly understood in lowland Cheshire. The outstanding survival of later occupation suggests that better quality evidence of early prehistoric activity may be preserved elsewhere in the field, presenting the opportunity to increase our under - standing of these elusive human groups.

The battle of Chester, AD 604 x 616, was won by the Northumbrian king Aethelfrith. It was described by Bede in his Historia ecclesiastica, written over a century later. Skeletons, apparently of warriors who fought in the battle, have been uncovered at Heronbridge, just south of Chester. The paper considers the medieval documentary sources relating to the battle and aims to evince a critical approach to them in the hope of elucidating some aspects of the battle. It also considers the geopolitical situation of the time and Aethelfrith's likely motives for his incursion and adumbrates a few areas where subsequent archaeological investigation may provide clearer answers to presently insoluble problems of interpretation.

The opportunity to assess human skeletal remains from Norton Priory, near Runcorn (Cheshire), led to the discovery of peri-mortem blade trauma on an adult male skeleton. The burial evidence suggests that this individual was a wealthy knight and lay benefactor of the priory in the thirteenth century and skeletal evidence has revealed that he was the victim of inter-personal violence. Additionally, many skeletal elements were affected by advanced Paget's disease, which may have resulted in a certain level of vulnerability due to restricted movement of his arms as a result of Pagetic thickening of the bones. This is the only evidence found of weapon related trauma on the Norton Priory skeletal assemblage, making it a rare case and contributing to our understanding of inter-personal violence associated with an ecclesiastical establishment in medieval Britain.