NHER 1487 (Monument record) - Snettisham Iron Age Treasure

[1]
1948-50. Excavation.
Discovery followed by excavation of Iron Age gold hoards, Roman, Middle Saxon, Late Saxon, and medieval sherds. See published report (S4).

Hoard A - Three Iron Age tubular torcs, one partial torc and a utilized pebble. See sketches (S8)-(S9) and drawings (S10)-(S12).
Hoards B and C - At least 48 Iron Age loop terminal orcs, 17 ingot-bracelets, 14 rings, coins and other miscellaneous fragments of sheet-bronze and 'cake' of gold allow and tin. See drawings (S13)-(S20) and S26).
Hoard D - An Iron Age looped terminal torc (S4).
Hoard E - An Iron Age ring terminal torc, bracelet and a terminal torc. See drawings (S21)-(S23)

See illustration (S24) for an example of a similar find.

These excavations also produced limited evidence for pre-Iron Age activity on this part of Ken Hill, although this was largely limited to an assemblage of worked flints. These include a single Mesolithic microlith (Area 1; Site 47) and a number of flakes thought to be associated with a Mesolithic industry (S28).

A significant number of Neolithic or Early Bronze Age flints were also recovered, along with 2 sherds of Beaker pottery and a Bronze Age socketed axe (S4). These finds are part of the collection of material from this work that is held by the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1950.219). The flints have been independently examined by J. J. Wymer and R. Jacobi, who both confirmed the presence of a notable Mesolithic component to the assemblage. A range of pieces are listed in (S5), including 1 flaked axehead, 4 cores, 53 blades/flakes, 11 scrapers and 1 microlith. Three of the cores were identified by Jacobi as micro-blade cores, who described the microlith as a "superb" Class 5b with straight retouch across base. Information from (S6).

The much larger assemblage of later prehistoric flints includes the cutting edge of a Neolithic polished axehead and the pointed butt of a flaked axehead (S7).
An undated mica schist saddle quern of probable prehistoric date was also recovered (S27).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 10 December 2012.

1952. Excavation of Iron Age and Roman sherds.
1964. Iron Age torc found. See drawing (S25).
1968. Iron Age torc found.
1973. Iron Age torc found.
1983-84. Roman, Late Saxon, medieval and post medieval sherds found.
1989. Roman figurine found with metal detector, also further Iron Age torcs and coins.
1990. Further Iron Age torcs and coins in vessel found.
1992. Excavations by British Museum. Roman religious site?
See full details in files including drawings, plan and photographs.

Plan showing area of excavation in 1990-1992 at 1:1000 scale in file.
Also English translation of (S1).
A. Rogerson (NLA), 30 January 2002.

Before 8 March 2004. Metal-detecting in small area. [2].
Three Roman coins.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 15 April 2004.

See (S2) in file.
E. Darch (NLA), 4 February 2005.

Two fragments of electrum discovered March 2004 declared Treasure.
E. Darch (NLA), 11 March 2005.

(S3) in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 14 May 2007.

August 2006. Metal-detecting.
Late Bronze Age hoard of copper alloy objects, comprising 17 socketed axeheads, 7 socketed axehead fragments; 1 winged axehead fragment, 1 blade fragment, 1 knife fragment and 2 sheet fragments.
Information from PAS import.
This hoard was declared Treasure at inquest (Ref: 2006 T441) and subsequently acquired by Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM:2011.253).
P. Watkins (HES), 11 March 2024.

23 June 2009.
Designation proposal submitted to English Heritage.
D. Gurney (NLA), 7 December 2009.

June 2009.
See [3].