NHER 61661 (Monument record) - Potentially prehistoric features and Neolithic worked flints

November 2010. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of proposed development site.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 26 October 2016.

February 2015. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site at Middle Farm.
Potentially archaeologically-significant features were investigated in five of the 14 trenches excavated. In most cases these features were found to be of probable natural origin. Possible exceptions included two potentially prehistoric pit-like features present in a trench at the northern edge of the site. The first of these was an irregular curvilinear feature that produced a small assemblage of Neolithic flints (including a horseshoe scraper, a flake core and several blade-like flakes) but was not necessarily a deliberately dug feature [1]. The second feature was also irregular and potentially of natural origin, although its fill was very dark and contained a number of burnt flints; suggesting that it incorporated a deliberate dump of material. The only finds recovered were two blade-like flint flakes similar to those recovered from the adjacent feature. A sample taken from this deposit produced an assemblage of charred wood/charcoal that was most likely associated with a single episode of burning.
The majority of the other features excavated were thought to be of natural origin. The one exception was a small pit, although its sterile fill produced no dating evidence.
Unstratified finds were limited to three additional worked flints that were also of probable Neolithic date.
See report (S2) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.285).
P. Watkins (HES), 18 October 2016. Amended 19 May 2019.