NHER 54903 (Monument record) - Prehistoric, Roman and post-medieval features

April 2010. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
The first phase of activity represented at the site is prehistoric with three shallow pits in the south-west of the site containing struck flint. The date range of the struck flint recovered is from the Early Neolithic to Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age.
The Roman period is represented by three possible rubbish pits containing pottery dating to the 2nd century, which included locally produced coarseware vessels and also imported finewares from central Gaul. The coarsewares included rim from jars of a sandy greyware typical of the kilns in Wattisfield in Suffolk.
The third phase of activity at the site was dated to the 11th and 14th century from the pottery recovered from deposits overlying a dark earth layer. No features could be assigned to this period but a possible wall foundation and flint floor, which may have formed part of a small structure, cut the upper levels of these deposits indicating that they post-date these deposits.
The final period of activity at the site dates to the post-medieval period and a brick-lined well was revealed in the middle of the site. The post-medieval pottery assemblage comprised a single sherd of Raeran Aachen stoneware dating from the late 15th to 16th centuries and a sherd of late 18th to 20th century iron-glazed black ware. Metalworking debris was recovered from pits in the centre of the site including smithing slag and the remains of a clay lining possibly from a smithing hearth but could not be securely dated. A small droplet of lead was recovered from an unstratified context.
See report (S1) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S2).
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2011.511).
S. Howard (NLA), 20 September 2010. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 16 May 2019.

November 2013. Excavation.
This excavation revealed a range of features, the earliest of which was a pit containing a small assemblage of Iron Age pottery.
As expected, many of the features were of probable Roman date, including a clay-built structure (possibly a corn dryer) and various pits and ditches. Elements of a ‘dark earth’ type possible occupation deposit were also encountered.
Post-Roman remains included several features of possible medieval date and a post-medieval well and ditch.
No assessment report produced – see correspondence in file and list of finds (S3) for further details. Final reports awaited.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.217).
P. Watkins (HES), 19 May 2019. Amended 15 June 2021.