NHER 61127 (Monument record) - Potentially prehistoric enclosure and possibly associated pits and ditch

2004-2005. Desk-based Assessment.
Archaeological assessment of western route options for Norwich Northern Distributor Road.
See reports (S1) and (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 July 2019.

December 2006. Systematic Fieldwalking and Metal-detecting Survey.
Field survey on proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Field 15).
No archaeological finds were recovered.
See reports (S3) and (S4) for further details.
Previously recorded under NHER 18131.
A. Cattermole (NLA), 16 September 2009. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 5 July 2019.

2007. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Route (Phase 1).
The two trenches excavated at this site were positioned to investigate the south-west and south-east sides of the previously identified cropmark enclosure (NHER 18131). These trenches both exposed substantial corresponding ditches, with a number of the deposits in one feature potentially representing material that had eroded from an internal bank. Unfortunately little in the way of dating evidence was recovered from these ditches, with finds limited to a small assemblage of worked and burnt flints.
A number of intercutting pits were identified within the enclosure, the majority of which also produced few finds. Although the function of these pits was uncertain, two appeared to be truncated by a shallow hollow associated with a deposit of burnt flint - suggesting some of these features might represent the remains of a prehistoric burnt mound. Finds from the pits were limited to a small number of worked flints, burnt flints, three grog-tempered ?Bronze Age pottery sherds and several flint-tempered sherds that could be either Early Neolithic or Iron Age in date.
Although the worked flints recovered at this site are not closely datable the majority of the flakes are small, irregular, hard-hammer struck pieces, which is consistent with a Late Neolithic to Bronze Age date.
Other finds recovered at this site included a post-medieval pantile fragment and a single piece of metal-working debris.
See report (S5) for further details. See also (S6).
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.362).
Previously recorded under NHER 18131.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 5 July 2019.

March-June 2009. Geophysical Survey
Magnetometer survey on proposed line of the Norwich Northern Distributor Road (eastern field; Site H5).
A positive linear anomaly identified in the extreme north-west corner of the area examined almost certainly represents the ditch associated with the south-west side of the cropmark enclosure (NHER 18131) relates to this enclosure. A number of weak linear positive anomalies were the only other possible evidence for archaeologically significant remains in this area. A least two of these anomalies appear to correspond with former field boundaries shown on 19th-century maps.
See report (S7) for further details.
Previously recorded under NHER 49741.
P. Watkins (HES), 2 August 2015. Amended 5 July 2019.

February 2010. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (eastern field; Site H5).
Seven of the ten trenches excavated revealed archaeologically significant features. These features included a number of ditches, a posthole, a pit and two pits or natural features; none of which produced any dating evidence. It was however notable that the alignments of the ditches differed from the present-day boundaries, suggesting that they related to earlier field systems. Two of these features may correlate with weak positive linear anomalies identified during the earlier geophysical survey.
See report (S8) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S9).
Previously recorded under NHER 49741.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 July 2015.

April 2012-April 2013. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey on proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (western field; Block 15).
This survey identified three well-defined conjoining linear anomalies that clearly correspond with the previously identified cropmark enclosure. A short, similarly-aligned linear anomaly identified a little way to the north-west probably represents an associated ditch. This feature appears to correspond with another previously identified cropmark. Numerous pit-like anomalies were detected both within the enclosure and in its immediate vicinity and these may also represent archaeologically significant features, although a geological origin is equally likely.
There was no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with a curvilinear cropmark that has been interpreted as a possible Neolithic long barrow or mortuary enclosure (NHER 53233).
See report (S10) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 August 2015.

April-August 2015. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of two sites on proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Fields H3-H4 and H5).
The seven trenches excavated in the western field (Field H3-H4) revealed a range of archaeologically-significant remains, including ditches, pits and post-holes.
The work in this field saw a trench excavated across the north-west side of the previously investigated rectilinear cropmark enclosure (NHER 18131), which was again found to be associated with a substantial ditch. Finds recovered from this feature included two undiagnostic scraps of prehistoric pottery, two flint flakes of Middle Bronze Age or later date and a number of burnt flints.
This trench was also positioned to coincide with the adjacent, potentially Neolithic curvilinear cropmark (NHER 53233), but in this case no corresponding sub-surface feature appeared to be present. This is consistent with the results of the 2012/2013 geophysical survey which also failed to identify any evidence for surviving remains associated with this cropmark.
Features that were present in the vicinity of the enclosure included a number of small pits or post-holes, one of which was found to contain a flint-tempered prehistoric pottery sherd of uncertain date, a flint flake and a number of burnt flints. A sample taken from the fill of this feature produced a notable assemblage of charred plant macrofossils comprising abundant barley grains, occasional spelt/emmer grains and spelt/emmer chaff, weed seeds and flax seeds. Material of a similar nature was also present in a sample taken from a nearby discrete feature, albeit in smaller quantities. A number of probable post-holes were also exposed by a trench excavated to the north of the enclosure. These features were also poorly-dated, with finds limited to several burnt flints and a tiny scrap of Roman pottery. Despite their uncertain date and function these groups of post-holes were nevertheless potentially significant, particularly as they suggested that prehistoric remains were not necessarily confined to the interior of the enclosure.
Several of the trenches excavated elsewhere exposed ditches that were not represented by cropmarks and had not been identified by the preceding geophysical survey. A north-to-south aligned ditch produced two severely abraded sherds of Roman pottery but the other features produced little else in the way of finds. The varying alignments of these ditches does though suggest that they were probably associated with more than one phase of activity.
A trench placed to the west of the west-south-west to east-north-east aligned linear cropmark at TG 1789 1558 (also recorded under NHER 18131) demonstrated that this feature does not extend beyond its mapped extent (in this direction at least). This at least is consistent with the results of the 2012/2013 geophysical survey.

Although archaeological remains were also identified in the eastern field (H5), these were fairly sparse, with features only present in seven of the 18 trenches excavated.
Although a trench placed across the south-east side of the large cropmark enclosure (NHER 18131) revealed a large feature at the point where one was anticipated this appeared to be a terminus and therefore difficult to reconcile with the cropmark evidence (which suggests this side of the enclosure continued north-eastwards for at least another 40m. Finds recovered included sherds of Early Bronze Age pottery and a number of worked flints of probable later Bronze Age to Iron Age date. A notable amount of burnt flint was also present.
A series of intercut north-north-east to south-south-west aligned ditches exposed in the northernmost trench almost certainly corresponded with the western side of another rectilinear cropmark enclosure (NHER 53232). Although a medieval to post-medieval date has been suggested for this enclosure the only finds recovered were four sherds of Roman pottery and a small amount of burnt flint. An adjacent north-west to south-east aligned ditch appears to have corresponded with a short, similarly-aligned cropmark. This feature produced a single Roman pottery sherd, along with six small sherds of probable Early Bronze Age date.
A north-north-east to south-south-west aligned ditch appears to continue the line of a linear geophysical anomaly and almost certainly corresponded with one of the former field boundaries depicted on 19th-century maps.
Other remains identified included three features interpreted as possible ditch termini, one of which produced a small amount of iron slag. A number of probable natural features were also investigated.
Unstratified finds included a flint blade core of Mesolithic/Early Neolithic date. Another core of probable Mesolithic or Neolithic date was also found in one of the excavated ditches.
See report (S11) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 5 July 2019.

January-September 2016. Strip Map and Sample Excavation.
Excavation of site on route of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Area 3).
Details awaited.
See local press article (S12).
P. Watkins (HES), 5 July 2019.