NHER 55765 (Monument record) - Potentially prehistoric, Roman, post-medieval and undated remains

March 2010. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of part of large proposed development area (Field 17).
Three small discrete positive anomalies are thought to be small infilled pits. A weak linear anomaly running from north to south through the area corresponds with one of the former field boundaries shown on the Attleborough tithe map of 1838 (S1), as do several perpendicular linear anomalies. Another perpendicular linear anomaly corresponds with a boundary that was added between 1838 and the production of the Ordnance Survey First Edition Six Inch map in the 1880s (S2). A discrete area of magnetic disturbance in the north-west corner of the site corresponds with a small pond depicted on this map.
A particularly pronounced north-east to south-west aligned linear anomaly was caused by a modern pipeline.
See report (S3) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S4).
S. Howard (HES), 28 June 2011.

February-March 2022. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development area (Field 4).
This survey identified a number of linear anomalies, the majority of which correspond with former field boundaries depicted on either the Attleborough tithe map (S1) or the Ordnance Survey First Edition Six-inch map (S2). A number of slightly more irregular linear anomalies in the southern half of the field may though represent ditches associated with earlier boundaries.
Two linear dipolar anomalies are modern services (known to be a gas main and a high-pressure water main).
The only discrete response of notes are two dipolar anomaly that coincide with former ponds shown on (S2) (one in the south-west corner of the field and the other at TM 05518 94030). Various other amorphous positive anomalies are of probable natural origin – being most likely the result of changes in the underlying soils or geology.
See report (S5) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 28 October 2024.

March-July 2023. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development area (Trenches 120-135 146-160 and 167-180).
The 45 trenches excavated at this location revealed a number of ditches and several clusters of discrete features, the majority of which produced little or no dating evidence.
As in the surrounding fields the small assemblages of prehistoric worked flints and pottery recovered provide evidence for at least limited activity during multiple periods. The prehistoric pottery includes a single Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age sherd that was recovered from an otherwise undated post-hole that lay within a diffuse cluster of undated pits and post-holes. Small amounts of Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age pottery were also recovered from two relatively isolated pits and a post-hole within another loose cluster of undated pits and post-holes. Given the quantities of material involved it is impossible to say exactly how many of these features were actually prehistoric in date.
A number of features of probable or possible Roman date were also uncovered, including a number of pits at the southern end of the site. The most notable of these contained a single Roman pottery sherd, several pieces of Roman tile and numerous fragments of fired clay and animal bone (some of the latter burnt and initially identified as cremated human bone). The building material includes a fragment of a combed flue tile – indicating the presence of a significant building somewhere in the vicinity. A sample from the fill of this pit contained charred wheat grains. Finds from the other pits included a late Roman coin and Roman pottery sherds. Roman pottery was also recovered from one of a pair of east-north-east to west-south-west aligned ditches encountered approximately 200m to the north-east of these features.
The majority of the ditches uncovered were of probable post-medieval date, corresponding with former field boundaries depicted on the Attleborough tithe map (S1) and/or the Ordnance Survey First Edition Six-inch map (S2). These included adjacent east-to-west aligned ditches in the northernmost part of the site that once flanked a minor trackway. The position of this trackway can be seen in the field boundaries shown on the 19th-century maps, although it is unclear if it was still extant at this time. The surface of the trackway itself was formed by a compact sandy clay deposit which was found to contain a fragment of Roman brick. Finds from the various post-medieval ditches included post-medieval brick and tile fragments, a post-medieval iron horseshoe and an unidentified leather object. Other features of likely post-medieval date included an infilled pond that is also shown on (S2). This contained fragments of post-medieval glass and another post-medieval iron horseshoe. A large hollow a little to the south contained a small amount of what was presumably residual Roman pottery and a complete hayfork of medieval to post-medieval date.
No unstratified finds were recovered.
See report (S6) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 28 October 2024.