NHER 18943 (Monument record) - Saxon and medieval features, multi-period finds

3 March 1983.
Context 1.
Odd sherds medieval pottery across field.

Context 2 at [1].
Medieval pottery abundant. Also one Early Saxon, one Middle Saxon and several Late Saxon and some post medieval.
Abundant bone, some shell, not much fired clay.
Irregular area not on roddon, but surrounds, but with exception of pieces of bone, does not cover a slightly raised area of light silt. 90m northwest to southeast x 50m northeast to southwest at 2.4 (8ft) OD.
On other side of silt and linking with the pottery scatter, abundant bone spread but little pottery.
Both set in dark grey discoloured silt.
Identifications by R. Silvester (NAU) March 1983.
R. Silvester (NAU) March 1983.

Some of pottery later reidentified as Ipswich Ware, non-Ipswich Ware Middle Saxon, and Thetford type ware. The mound on which Context 2 site is probably a Middle Saxon saltern.

For full details of wares, flint types, etc. see Fenland Folders (S1).

1989-1990. Further work at Context 2 during Fenland Evaluation.
A few more pieces of Middle Saxon pottery were collected and an auger hole drilled in the centre of the mound, providing a sample of the burnt deposit beneath the ploughsoil.
A dossier has been prepared for Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission - copy in file.
M. Leah (NAU) August 1990.

September 1990. Metal detector find.
14th century strap end made of two plates, both cut to form elaborate 'half- rosette terminal. Rocker arm decoration.
Information from member of the public [2].
Identified by S. Margeson (NCM).
A. Rogerson (NAU) 9 October 1990.

1992. Fieldwalking and Excavation.
Fenland Management Project.
Fieldwalking revealed scatter of Ipswich Ware and local handmade pottery, centred on a low rise, c. 100 m in diameter.
Excavation revealed that the mound is not a saltern after all but highest point of roddon, which had been largely buried by post-Roman silt. Substantial Middle Saxon, Late Saxon and medieval ditches full of domestic rubbish. Samples taken from the ditches revealed the presence of salt-tolerant crops such as barley, suggesting arable activity on the site.
See published report (S2) and (S3) for further details. See also report on plant macrofossils (S4). The results of this work are also summarised in (S5) and (S6).
E. Rose (NAU) 1 March 1993 amended by M. Langham-Lopez (HES), 03 July 2013.

On the crest of the roddon were a number of linear features ranging from slight gullies to substantial ditches up to 2m across and more than 1.2m deep. Finds and stratigraphic relationships indicated that some these features were Late Saxon/early medieval in date while others were Middle Saxon.
There was also a Middle Saxon probable hearth, and a large pit containing Late Saxon pottery.
Middle Saxon (including Ipswich Ware), Late Saxon and early post medieval pottery and metal detecting finds included an 11th century Ringerike-style mount and bronze box mount of similar date.
J. Allen (NLA) 15 September 2000.

August 1992. Metal detecting finds.
Three medieval coins. See list in file. Identified by J. Davies (NCM).
A. Rogerson (NLA) 5 October 1992.

September-October 1999. Metal detecting.
Early medieval coin.
Medieval and undated metal finds.
Middle Saxon, medieval and post medieval metal finds.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 1 November 1999.

October-November 1999. Metal detecting.
One medieval coin.
Late Saxon and post medieval metal finds.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 30 November 1999.

2000. Metal detecting.
Two medieval coins.
Medieval, post medieval and undatable metal finds from four areas.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 24 July 2000.

Before September 2000. Metal detecting.
Medieval and post medieval metal finds.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 28 September 2000.

October 2000. Metal detecting.
Two Roman coins at [3].
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 5 November 2000.

2000.
AML report on charred macrofossils.
See copy in file.
D. Gurney (NLA) 25 may 2001.