NHER 52651 (Monument record) - Roman and Late Saxon to medieval ditches, undated linear features and multi-period finds

September 2008. Geophysical Survey.
Site of proposed quarry (Area 3).
As with the area immediately north (NHER 24146), geomagnetic survey of this area was dominated by discrete anomalies indicating the presence of fired and/or ferrous material in the subsoil. This may have been caused by geology or former industrial processes on the site and may have masked any archaeological features. Diffuse anomalies detected in the north of the study area (adjacent to those identified in Area 2, NHER 24146) may reflect soil-filled features. Two linear anomalies in the south of the study area have been interpreted as possible former land drains.
See report (S1) for further details.
H. Hamilton (NLA), 12 February 2009.

September-October 2008. Systematic Fieldwalking and Metal-detecting Survey.
Site of proposed quarry (Area 3).
Several undiagnostic prehistoric worked flints were recovered from this area, and a cluster of burnt flint and potboilers was noted in the western half of this field. Two sherds of Roman pottery, a Roman bow brooch and a possible Roman coin were found in this area. Medieval and post-medieval finds included pottery and ceramic building material as well as post-medieval buckles, coin and button.
See report (S2) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2011.120).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 14 September 2009. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 12 May 2019.

November 2008. Trial Trenching.
Site of proposed quarry (Area 3).
To the east of this site, trial trenches (nos. 49, 56, 58 and 59) encountered several ditches which were also visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs (see NHER 49680). Two of these were found to contain Thetford and St Neot's ware pottery sherds, indicating a date range of 850-1150 AD. Another ditch in the vicinity contained greyware dating from the 2nd to 4th centuries AD. This feature was also visible on aerial photographs. Four post-holes which may have formed part of a wall or structure were also recorded in this area.
In the south-west of this site, several undated ditches, several of which had been recorded from aerial photographs by the NMP (see NHER 49680) were encountered.
See report (S3) for further information.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2011.120).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 14 September 2009. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 12 May 2019.

"Geology or former industrial processes" mentioned in magnetometer report is more likely to be human or instrument error.
K Hamilton (HES), 6 January 2015