Research agenda

This section addresses the potential of the resource to answer specific historical and archaeological questions, to fill lacunae in our knowledge and suggest proposals for future work.

International context

Amphitheatres are one of the most distinctive Roman monuments throughout the empire. As such, they form an important contribution to our understanding and appreciation of the Roman past and the cultural history of Europe, the Near East and North Africa.

Specific historical issues of international significance to which the study of amphitheatres throughout the empire can contribute include:

• architecture


• public buildings


• ritual practice


• ceremonial activities


• leisure activities


• law and justice

Besides the purely Roman archaeology, amphitheatres also have significance for the post-Roman period, with sites such as Arles (Rivet 1988, 195) and Cirencester (Wacher 1974, 314) surviving to be used as fortifications.

National context

Within Britain, the number of known amphitheatres is small (fewer than twenty certain sites have been identified) and even fewer have been found associated with legionary fortresses (apart from Chester, only Caerleon's amphitheatre has been located, although it is certain that York also possessed one). Research issues related to amphitheatres associated with military sites include:

• the chronology of the military occupation of Britain


• the role of fortresses in the process of acculturation


• the relationship between the military, the canabenses and the indigenous population


• the survival and re-use of Roman imperial monuments in later periods

Site-specific context

The early history of the amphitheatre is thought to parallel that of the legionary fortress in general. The basic constructional sequence appears to be similar to that of other major structures, suggesting a close relationship between the fortunes of the fortress and those of the amphitheatre, although Dennis Petch (1987, 167) disagrees. Nevertheless, the amphitheatre's late third century refurbishment does not fit this model particularly well, as this appears to occur half a century later than similar work inside the enclosure. Research issues related to the Roman history of the amphitheatre include:

• the chronology of the amphitheatre


• the chronology of the military occupation of Chester


• the relationship between the military population and the canabenses

The amphitheatre appears to have remained a highly visible monument in the immediately post-Roman period as its outer wall defined the course of Little St John Street to the east and St John Street & Newgate to the west. The main research issue connected with the post-Roman history of the site is:

• the role of the amphitheatre in the development and topography of the later town

On to the specific research questions

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