NHER 38222 (Monument record) - Probable Middle Saxon fish trap on Holme Beach (fish trap V)

Holme fish trap V

February to March 2003. NAU survey.
A line of eleven posts across a distance of 12m. This structure could have been a fish trap.
(S1)-(S2).
J. Allen (NLA), 23 April 2003.

September 2003. Site visit.
Thirty one posts observed in July; thirty one seen in September.
D. Robertson (NAU), 21 October 2003.

January/February 2004. Monitoring.
This monument is incredibly difficult to monitor – this is because so many new posts have been seen since the proper planning of it in March 2003. Another phase of accurate planning will be required to produce a fully accurate and reliable drawing. The northern half of the monument was concealed by standing water in both January and February. All the measured posts were more prominent than before. Erosion has been severe in the southern part of the monument. Five timbers were sampled. All have been submitted for species identification; two were submitted to radiocarbon dating.
The calibrated radiocarbon dates for the two samples are cal AD 780-1030 and cal AD 690-990 (Middle to Late Saxon date).
See (S3).

January 2006. Casual observations made while bird watching on Holme Beach.
The timber fishtrap was covered in sand. No posts were visible.
D. Robertson (NLA), 23 January 2006.

May 2006.
Fish trap V is probably a continuation of the eastern arm of V shaped fish trap I (NHER 38042) to the north. This northern fish trap is joined to fish trap III (NHER 39586) to the southwest. It is very likely that fish traps I and III would have been used in conjunction with each other. Together the three structures form a large fishtrap complex.
Other fish traps are located near by (see NHER 38043 and 37613).
See (S1)-(S3).
The radiocarbon dates for fishtraps I and V range from Early to Late Saxon in date. The radiocarbon dates for fishtrap III are Middle Saxon and may indicate a firmer date for fish traps I and V. Further details regarding this possibility are awaited from the English Heritage Scientific Dating Centre.
D. Robertson (NLA), 26 May 2006.

For further information on the Holme Beach walkover and monitoring surveys see final report (S4). The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2010.321).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 11 May 2019.