NHER 42738 (Monument record) - Natural features and evidence for medieval and/or post-medieval industrial activity

December 2005. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site. Contexts 1001 to 13004 used.
A total of eleven trenches out of a proposed thirteen were excavated (two abandoned due to the presence of asbestos). The evaluation revealed two possible medieval/post medieval curvilinear features and two undated clay lined pits, which all appear to represent specialist activities associated with metalworking. A section through the remains of the medieval clay sea bank was also revealed.
See report (S1) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S2).
J. Allen (NLA), 19 March 2007.

March 2006. Excavation.
Excavation in advance of development. From context 15000.
Removal of topsoil and subsoil deposits exposed alluvial sandy silt deposits. Patches of clay were present within this alluvial material, one of which been identified as a possible feature during the earlier trial trenching. Investigation of this and two other outcrops of clay demonstrated that these deposits were sterile and almost certainly of natural origin.
One of the previously excavated features was shown to be a sinuous channel and it is suggested that this and two nearby channels were most likely nature features. Another of the features partially exposed during the evaluation was shown to be a large amorphous feature with an undulating and irregular profile. This was also interpreted as a probable palaeochannel of some kind. A single fragment of abraded briquetage was the only find recovered from these features.
Two isolated patches of burnt sand/clinker were the only evidence for industrial activity and it couldn't be established whether these actually represented in situ burning. It therefore seems likely that the small amount of debris present on this site was actually waste from activities taking place somewhere else in the vicinity.
See report (S3) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2018.110).
P. Watkins (HES), 2 December 2018.