NHER 5231 (Find Spot record) - Multi-period prehistoric finds and Roman pottery, Methwold Hythe

Various finds from old O.S field 439 (Curtis Field 121).

1950-1957. Stray Find.
F. Curtis' catalogue lists a number of finds that were found in this field (F121), but for which little additional information is given. The worked flints listed in (S1) are as follows:
1 Mesolithic microlith.
3 Neolithic transverse arrowheads.
1 Neolithic polished axehead.
1 Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age arrowhead.
4 scrapers.
3 borers.
2 fabricators.
1 'saw'.
6 other implements.
A bone/antler needle is also listed.
Previously recorded as NHER 30165.
E. Rose (NLA), 30 November 1993. Amended by P. Watkins (HES).

Pre 1958. Stray Find.
Found by [1] at [2]:
1 Middle Bronze rapier with two rivets found west of Methwold Hythe Lode. Information from (S2). Listed in (S3) (Group II, Wandsworth-Chatteris class), (S4) (Class 2, Group 2), and (S5) (Group IV with archaic butt and Group III affinities. These additional references listed in (S1). Previously recorded under NHER 5251.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 18 November 2013. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 15 April 2019.

1966. Stray Find.
Found at approximately [3] after field ploughed, possibly all by [4].
Various worked flints including:
1 Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age barbed and tanged arrowhead.
1 ?unfinished Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age barbed and tanged arrowhead. See sketch on (S2).
Information from (S2).
Also:
Beaker pottery sherds (?A). Plain sherds, 1 rim. Information from (S6). See sketch of rim on (S6).
Roman pottery sherds (2nd-3rd century). Information (S7).
E.B. Green (NCM). Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 18 November 2013. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 15 April 2019.

February 1985. Fenland Project fieldwalking.
Several discrete concentrations of material identified:

Site MTW HD (General scatter).
Flints across an area at least 20m in diameter. Concentration not sufficient to warrant inclusion in the final publication. Previously recorded under NHER 5251.

Site MTW 43 ([5]; Context 1).
On ridge above peat. Moderate spread of worked flint with some bone and more rare 'pot boilers' and one fragment of possible Beaker pottery. Max dimensions 29m NE/SW x 20m NW/SE. The worked flints are of predominantly Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date and include a significant number of flakes, scrapers, core fragments and several serrated blades. Previously recorded as NHER 21138.

Site MTW 44 ([6]; Context 2).
On east side of ridge. Sparse to moderate bone and worked flints with moderate concentration of 'pot boilers'. Max dimensions 36m NE/SW x 28m NW/SE. The worked flints are of predominantly Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date and include a 'thumbnail' scraper and at least one serrated piece. Also one sherd of Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age pottery. Previously recorded as NHER 21139.

Site MTW 45 ([7]; Context 3).
On small hump partially surrounded by peat. Moderate to abundant concentration of 'pot boilers' with a few bone fragments and worked flints. Max dimensions 31m NE/SW x 24m NW/SE. Worked flints not closely datable. Previously recorded as NHER 21191.

Site MTW 46 ([8]; Context 4).
On gently sloping ridge above peat. Sparse spread of flints and a few 'pot boilers' and bone fragments. Single sherds of indet. and indet. prehistoric pottery also recovered. Max dimensions 36m NE/SW x 26m NW/SE. Worked flints predominantly Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age, although a small blade core was possibly Mesolithic. A large core made on ?floorstone was potentential associated with post-medieval gunflint knapping. Previously recorded as NHER 21192.

Site MTW 47 ([9]; Context 5).
On edge of low ridge. Sparse concentration of worked flints with rare 'pot boilers' and bone fragments. Max dimensions 25m E/W x 15m N/S. Worked flints not closely datable. Previously recorded under NHER 21193.

Site MTW 48 ([10]; Context 6).
In slight depression between ridges. Even spread of large flints with occasional bone fragments. Max dimensions 28m NW/SE x 25m NE/SW. The worked flints are predominantly later Neolithic and include 1 chisel arrowhead, 1 oblique arrowhead and 1 chisel/oblique arrowhead fragment. Previously recorded as NHER 21194.

For further details see project archive (S10) and final publication (S11).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 20 November 2013. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 15 April 2019.

24 April 1992. Fieldwalking.
Found by [11] at [12] (Context 1):
6 ?Neolithic worked flints, including 2 end scrapers on long narrow flakes, 2 end and both sides scrapers, 1 side and end scraper and 1 retouched blade (?knife).
Identified by P. Robins (NCM). See full descriptions in file. Finds now held by the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1999.1.19.13). Previously recorded as NHER 21138.
W. Milligan (NCM), 25 October 1996. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 20 November 2013. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 15 April 2019.

May 1992. Fieldwalking finds.
Found by [11] at [13] (Context 4):
3 ?Neolithic worked flints, including 1 end scraper, 1 retouched flake (?knife) and 1 serrated flake.
Identified by P. Robins (NCM). See full descriptions in file. Finds now held by the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1999.1.19.14). Previously recorded as NHER 21192.
Also 1 Roman coin (4th century). See list in file. Identified by J. Davies (NCM).
Previously recorded under NHER 21192.
W. Milligan (NCM), 25 October 1996. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 20 November 2013.

19 October 1992. Metal-detecting and fieldwalking.
Found by [11] at [14]:
Tip of Bronze Age rapier blade. See illustration (S8).
Flint horseshoe scraper and antler fragment.
Previously recorded under NHER 29298.

Found at edge of field at [15]:
1 prehistoric saddle quern.
1 prehistoric convex 'rubber' of same size and same type of stone found nearby.
Finds now held by the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1999.1.34.39). Previously recorded as NHER 29299.

W. Milligan (NCM) 21 October 1992. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 20 November 2013. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 15 April 2019.

19 January 1993.
Found by [11] at [16] (Context 4):
1 probable Mesolithic flint axe (not a true tranchet axe). See drawing (S12).
Identified by P. Robins (NCM), see description in file.
W. Milligan (NCM), 11 February 1993.
Previously recorded as NHER 21192.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 20 November 2013. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 15 April 2019.

11 February 1994. Fieldwalking.
Found by [11] at [17]:
1 undatable prehistoric flint end scraper.
1 ?Mesolithic flint blade.
Identified by P.Robins (NCM) 10 March 1994. See full description in file.
Prehistoric pottery including Beaker sherd. Most finds now held by Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1999.1.34.19). Previously recorded under NHER 29298.
W. Milligan (NCM), 24 August 1995. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 20 November 2013. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 15 April 2019.

13 June 1994. Fieldwalking.
Found by [11] at [18] (Context 4):
22 Early Neolithic worked flints including, 1 leaf arrowhead, 1 double-edged serrated flake, 1 single-edged serrated blade, 1 flake knife, 8 end scrapers, 1 side scraper, 8 long flakes/blade segments and 1 irregular core.
Identified by P.Robins (NCM) 10 March 1994. See full description in file. Finds now held by Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1999.1.34.9.1). Previously recorded under NHER 21192.
W. Milligan (NCM), 9 August 1995. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 20 November 2013. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 15 April 2019.

February 1995. Fieldwalking.
Found by [11] at [19]:
2 undatable prehistoric flint scrapers.
1 Early Neolithic leaf arrowhead.
Identified by P.Robins (NCM). See full descriptions in file. Previously recorded under NHER 29298. Previously recorded under NHER 29298.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 20 November 2013. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 15 April 2019.

April 1995. Fieldwalking.
Found by [11] at [20]:
1 ?prehistoric partially perforated stone object. Possibly a unfinished macehead? Petrology No. N332. See illustration (S9).
1 Neolithic polished stone axe fragment. Petrology No. N333. See illustration (S9).
1 ?Neolithic serrated flint flake.
Identified by P. Robins (NCM). See file for full descriptions. Most finds now held by Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1999.1.34.19). Previously recorded under NHER 29298.

Found by [11] at [21] (Context 4):
8 prehistoric worked flints, including 1 knife, 1 ?flake knife and 6 end scrapers.
Identified by P.Robins (NCM) 10 March 1994. See full description in file. Finds now held by Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1999.1.34.9.1). Also:
1 ?Iron Age pottery sherd.
1 undated bronze sheet, probably prehistoric?
Previously recorded under NHER 21192.

Various worked flints found by [11] at [22] (Context 1):
1 ?Neolithic ?leaf-shaped arrowhead.
31 undatable prehistoric flints including 4 end scrapers, 1 retouched flake, 1 notched flake, and 25 flakes.
1 burnt flint fragment.
Identified by P. Robins (NCM). See file for full descriptions. Finds now held by Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1999.1.34.8). Previously recorded under NHER 21138.
See (S2) in file by P. Robins (NCM) 4 May 1995.

Found by [11] at [23]:
1 ?prehistoric (?Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age) polished bone tool. ?Gouge. See illustration (S13).
1 prehistoric probable saddle quern (has two surfaces).
3 undatable prehistoric pottery sherds.
1 Beaker pottery sherd.
3 undatable lava quern fragments (one with a surface - probably quern ?date).
Identified by P. Robins (NCM). See file for full descriptions. Finds now held by Norwich Castle Museum (all NWHCM : 1999.1.34.26 except bone object which is NWHCM : 2000.200.4.13). Previously recorded under NHER 31673.

W. Milligan (NCM), 18 May 1995. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 20 November 2013. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 15 April 2019.

January 1996. Fieldwalking.
Found by [11] at [24] (Context 5):
1 Early Neolithic unfinished flint leaf arrowhead.
Identified by P. Robins (NCM). See full description in file. Now held by Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1999.1.34.32). Previously recorded under NHER 21193.
W. Milligan (NCM), 15 February 1996. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 20 November 2013. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 15 April 2019.