NHER 28385 (Find Spot record) - Possible site of Early Saxon inhumation cemetery and multi-period finds

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Summary

Metal-detecting in 1990 and subsequently between 2005 and 2024 recovered Roman, medieval and medieval/post-medieval pottery sherds; the handle of a medieval pottery ladle; Late Iron Age, Roman, Middle Saxon, medieval and post-medieval coins; medieval and post-medieval jettons; post-medieval tokens and a range of other, Late Bronze Age to post-medieval metal objects. These metal finds include a Late Bronze Age awl; a Late Iron Age terret fragment; an Iron Age or Roman penannular bracelet fragment; Roman brooches and an unusual key handle; various Early Saxon objects including numerous brooch fragments, wrist clasps, girdle hanger fragments, an unidentified florid openwork copper alloy object, gold pyramidal sword mount and iron shield boss; a potentially Early Saxon copper alloy cast ring, iron possible suspension ring and iron possible knife blade; Early/Middle Saxon buckles and a probable mount or strap fitting; a Middle Saxon pin and possible link from linked-pin set; a Late Saxon disc brooch, mount and lead strap end; Late Saxon to post-medieval lead spindle whorls; a Saxon copper alloy unidentified object; medieval buckles, keys, a scabbard chape, horse-harness pendant, quillon from knife or dagger, half a mirror case and lead spindle whorl and a post-medieval shoe buckle and mount or stud. The nature of the Early Saxon finds recovered in this field suggests it is potentially the site of an Early Saxon inhumation cemetery.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TF60NE
Civil Parish SHOULDHAM, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

September 1990. Probably found with metal-detector. Found at location [1].
Long cross penny Henry III, no sceptre HENRICVS REX III.
North Class III (1248-1250).
Reverse IVR[DAN] ON WINC Probably= Jordan, Winchester.
Found by member of the public [2].
Identified by S. Margeson (NCM), 8 November 1990.
W. Milligan (NCM), 7 November 1990.

Before 25 October 2005. Metal-detecting.
2 Iron Age coins.
See lists in file.
E. Darch (NLA), 7 April 2006.

Before 11 January 2006. Metal-detecting. Site extended.
Late Bronze Age copper alloy awl (S1).
2 Late Iron Age coins.
1 Roman coin and brooches.
Early Saxon gold and garnet pyramid mount from sword.
8 medieval coins, a horse-harness pendant and half a mirror case.
1 post-medieval coin.
See lists in file.
The Early Saxon gold pyramid was declared Treasure at inquest (Ref: 2006 T14) and subsequently acquired by Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2007.38). See report in file.
E. Darch (NLA), 12 January, 20 April 2006 and 1 June 2006. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 10 May 2020.

Before 21 April 2006. Metal-detecting.
1 Late Iron Age coin.
1 Roman coin.
4 medieval coins.
Post-medieval shoe buckle.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 March 2024.

Before 19 November 2010. Metal-detecting.
Iron Age/Roman penannular bracelet fragment.
1 Middle Saxon coin (silver sceatta).
Late Saxon lead Winchester style strap-end.
Medieval quillon from knife or dagger.
See descriptions in file.
E. Darch (HES), 9 March 2011.

May-June 2012. Metal-detecting. Site extended to the whole field.
General finds from field:
Roman unusual key handle (S2).
Middle Saxon possible link from linked pin set.
2 medieval coins.
2 post-medieval coins.

Found within 15m of [4]:
Early Saxon brooches and unidentified florid openwork copper alloy object (S3).
Late Saxon mount (S4).
3 medieval coins, blue-grey pottery ladle handle and buckle.
2 post-medieval coins.

See lists in file.
S. Ashley (HES), 10 June 2012. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 21 March 2024.

August 2018. Metal-detecting. [4].
Late Saxon/post-medieval spindle whorl.
Information from PAS import.
E. McDonald (HES), 1 June 2019.

February-October 2019. Metal-detecting. [5].
2 Roman coins.
Late Saxon/medieval spindle whorl.
Information from PAS import.
E. McDonald (HES), 10 January 2020.

February 2021. Metal-detecting. [6].
1 medieval coin.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 9 March 2024.

September 2021. Metal-detecting. [7].
Early Saxon wrist clasp.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 23 May 2024 and 28 August 2024.

September 2022. Metal-detecting. [7].
Late Iron Age terret fragment.
Early Saxon brooch fragments, a wrist clasp and girdle hanger fragment and girdle hanger suspension ring (S5).
?Early Saxon copper alloy cast ring and iron possible suspension ring.
Information from PAS import.
The nature of finds recovered from the southern end of the field suggest this is probably the site of an Early Saxon cemetery.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 March 2024 to 1 September 2024.

January-March 2023. Metal-detecting. [6].
Late Saxon disc brooch.
Medieval rotary key for casket.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 9 March 2024.

October-November 2023. Metal-detecting. [7].
1 Late Iron Age coin (Roman issue denarius).
?Early Saxon iron possible knife blade.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 23 May 2024 and 28 August 2024.

January-September 2024. Metal-detecting. [8].
1 Late Iron Age coin.
13 Roman coins, 2 pottery sherds and 4 brooches (S7).
11 Early Saxon brooch fragments (S6), a girdle hanger, probable wrist clasp fragment and an iron shield boss.
3 Early/Middle Saxon buckles and a probable mount or strap fitting.
Middle Saxon pin.
Saxon copper alloy unidentified object.
3 medieval coins, 1 jetton, 1 pottery sherd, a buckle, strap end, scabbard chape, key and lead spindle whorl.
1 medieval/post-medieval pottery sherd, a strap fitting or belt hook, mount and copper alloy ring.
2 post-medieval coins, 3 jettons, 2 tokens and a mount or stud.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 26 January 2025 to 6 July 2025.

KLMD062025 – PAS details awaited. [9].
Finder’s field 'Mill Farm East'.
P. Watkins (HES), 10 June 2025.

KLMD082025 – PAS details awaited. [10].
Finders' fields 'Hill Farm East' [DB] and 'Mill Farm East' [RL].
P. Watkins (HES), 28 August 2025.

  • --- Photograph: I & RS. Digital finds image.
  • --- Photograph: NLA. Finds Photograph.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • --- Unpublished Document: Department for Culture, Media and Sport and British Museum. 2008. Treasure Annual Report 2005/6. p 88; No 251; Fig 251.
  • <S1> Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2006. Drawing of a Late Bronze Age awl.. Film. 1:1.
  • <S2> Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2012. Drawing of a Roman copper alloy key handle.. Find Illustration. Film. 2:1.
  • <S3> Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2012. Drawing of a unusual enamelled Early Saxon copper alloy florid openwork unidentified object.. Find Illustration. Film. 2:1.
  • <S4> Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2012. Drawing of an incomplete Late Saxon copper alloy mount.. Find Illustration. Film. 2:1.
  • <S5> Illustration: Gibbon, J. 2024. Drawing of an Early Saxon girdle hanger suspension ring. Find Illustration. Film. 2:1.
  • <S6> Illustration: Gibbon, J. 2024. Drawing of an Early Saxon florid cruciform brooch. Find Illustration. Film. 2:1.
  • <S7> Illustration: Gibbon, J. 2025. Drawing of a Roman enamelled plate brooch. Find Illustration. Film. 2:1.
  • AWL (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • BRACELET (Early Iron Age to Roman - 800 BC to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • COIN (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • HARNESS FITTING (Middle Iron Age to Roman - 300 BC to 100 AD)
  • COIN (Late Iron Age - 50 BC to 10 AD)
  • COIN (Late Iron Age - 32 BC to 31 BC)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 70 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 70 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • KEY (LOCKING) (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 50 AD to 60 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 81 AD to 96 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 100 AD to 200 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 100 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 119 AD to 121 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 125 AD to 160 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 164 AD to 165 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 249 AD to 251 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 260 AD to 378 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 260 AD to 378 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 271 AD to 274 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 275 AD to 364 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 307 AD to 318 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 330 AD to 334 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 336 AD to 342 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 364 AD to 378 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 378 AD to 402 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 378 AD to 402 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 387 AD to 388 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 600 AD)
  • KNIFE (Early Saxon to Middle Saxon - 410 AD to 700 AD)
  • RING (Early Saxon to Middle Saxon - 410 AD to 700 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • Pyramid Mount (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 450 AD to 550 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 450 AD to 550 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 450 AD to 550 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 450 AD to 550 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 450 AD to 550 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon to Middle Saxon - 450 AD to 720 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon to Middle Saxon - 450 AD to 720 AD)
  • GIRDLE HANGER (Early Saxon - 450 AD to 650 AD)
  • SHIELD BOSS (Early Saxon - 450 AD to 600 AD)
  • SLEEVE CLASP (Early Saxon - 450 AD to 570 AD)
  • SLEEVE CLASP (Early Saxon - 450 AD to 570 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Early Saxon to Late Saxon - 450 AD to 1050 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 470 AD to 570 AD)
  • GIRDLE HANGER (Early Saxon - 470 AD to 570 AD)
  • SLEEVE CLASP (Early Saxon - 470 AD to 570 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 475 AD to 550 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 475 AD to 550 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 475 AD to 550 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 475 AD to 550 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Early Saxon to Middle Saxon - 500 AD to 700 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Early Saxon to Middle Saxon - 500 AD to 700 AD)
  • GIRDLE HANGER (Early Saxon to Middle Saxon - 500 AD to 699 AD)
  • MOUNT (Early Saxon to Middle Saxon - 500 AD to 700 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Early Saxon to Middle Saxon - 575 AD to 800 AD)
  • COIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • PIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • COIN (Middle Saxon - 700 AD to 750 AD)
  • PIN (Middle Saxon to Late Saxon - 700 AD to 900 AD)
  • MOUNT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • STRAP END (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BROOCH (Late Saxon - 900 AD to 1000 AD)
  • SPINDLE WHORL (Late Saxon to Medieval - 900 AD to 1400 AD)
  • SPINDLE WHORL (Late Saxon to 16th Century - 1000 AD to 1600 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • DAGGER (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • KNIFE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • MIRROR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SWORD BELT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • KEY (LOCKING) (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1500 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1180 AD to 1189 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1195 AD to 1205 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • RING (Medieval to 18th Century - 1200 AD to 1800 AD)
  • SPINDLE WHORL (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1500 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1203 AD to 1216 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1248 AD to 1250 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1250 AD to 1450 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1282 AD to 1289 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1297 AD to 1299 AD)
  • KEY (LOCKING) (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1499 AD)
  • SCABBARD (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1499 AD)
  • STRAP END (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1310 AD to 1314 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1335 AD to 1343 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1351 AD to 1361 AD)
  • MOUNT (Medieval to 16th Century - 1400 AD to 1600 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval to 16th Century - 1400 AD to 1600 AD)
  • JETTON (Medieval - 1415 AD to 1497 AD)
  • POT (Medieval to 16th Century - 1450 AD to 1600 AD)
  • MOUNT / STUD (Medieval to 17th Century - 1500 AD to 1700 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1537 AD to 1538 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • JETTON (16th Century to 17th Century - 1550 AD to 1635 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1553 AD to 1554 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1553 AD to 1561 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1566 AD to 1566 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1580 AD to 1581 AD)
  • JETTON (16th Century to 17th Century - 1583 AD to 1601 AD)
  • JETTON (16th Century to 17th Century - 1586 AD to 1635 AD)
  • COIN (17th Century - 1604 AD to 1625 AD)
  • TOKEN (17th Century - 1650 AD to 1672 AD)
  • TOKEN (17th Century - 1669 AD to 1669 AD)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Nov 20 2025 3:50PM

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