NHER 62519 (Monument record) - Multi-period features

January-February 2013. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
A total of eleven trenches were excavated, a number of which were positioned in order to investigate a range of previously identified cropmark features, including a substantial double ring-ditch (NHER 43526) a range of probable field boundaries and enclosure ditches (NHERs 43525, 43528, 45049, 45203 and 43495) and two ring-ditches interpreted as roundhouses (NHER 43528).
There was limited evidence for earlier prehistoric activity in the form a small assemblage of worked flints and several features that produced Early Neolithic pottery. The potentially Early Neolithic features included two clusters of pits located within adjacent trenches in the south-east corner of the site. Although not all of the features in these groups produced dating evidence they were nevertheless of similar size and form to those that did, suggesting that there were probably broadly contemporary. The majority of the worked flints recovered during this work appear to be associated with a blade-based industry, including scrapers, a serrated blade, blades, blade-like flakes and a single core blade core rejuvenation flake. Much of this material has been identified as potentially Mesolithic, with only two end scraper believed to be Early Neolithic. Given the extensive evidence for Early Neolithic activity revealed by this and subsequent work on the site it seem likely that most, if not all, of the material dates to this later period, particularly given the absence of diagnostic Mesolithic implements.
The two trenches that targeted the large ring-ditch (NHER 43526) revealed a number of corresponding features, including inner and outer ditches and what appeared to be a discontinuous intermediate circuit. Although no dating evidence was recovered, the form of these features makes it highly probably that they are the remains of a Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age burial monument, most likely a disc barrow. The outer ditch has a diameter of c. 80m, making this one of the largest probable barrows identified in the county to date. One of the slots excavated though the outer ditch exposed an unurned cremation burial that had clearly been deposited after this substantial feature was already partially infilled. It was possible to identify the cremated bone as the remains of a young adult male, although the quantity of bone present suggests that the burial was incomplete. Although these remains are currently undated, it was noted that the size of the fragments is typical of Early Bronze Age urned cremations. Excavations elsewhere have demonstrated that monuments such as this were often associated with secondary Bronze Age internments. The cropmark evidence suggests that this large barrow was possibly part of a round barrow cemetery, with 16 smaller ring-ditches in its immediate environs also identified as possible barrows. A trench excavated across one of these features revealed at least two corresponding ditches, although unfortunately no dating evidence was recovered. Although still provisionally interpreted as the remains of a barrow it should be noted that this ring-ditch is actually smaller than two to the north that are believed to be associated with structures of a much more recent date. There was no evidence to suggest that any of the other excavated features were contemporary with the burial monuments, a single flint flake being the only find of probable Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date recovered.
Many of the cropmark features identified in this area are believed to have been associated with a settlement of Iron Age to Roman date and this is consistent with the results of the evaluation, with the finds recovered suggesting that a significant proportion of the excavated features probably dated to the Roman period. The features that produced Roman material lay predominantly in the southern half of the site and included ditches, small pits, and number of other discrete features, including a probable oven. The oven was a circular structure with fired clay walls and an associated stoke hole. A sample taken from its charcoal-rich main fill produced little evidence for its function.
The ditches that produced Roman material include several that correspond with north-to-south and east-to-west aligned cropmarks that appear to form part of a series of rectilinear enclosures and associated boundaries (NHER 43525). Finds recovered from a ditch in the south-western corner of the site suggest that another extensive group of linear cropmarks was also associated with Roman-period activity (NHER 43495). One of the trenches was placed to investigate the northernmost of these enclosures and one of the two presumably associated cropmark ring-ditches identified within it. Although both the enclosure itself and the ring-ditch were associated with surviving sub-surface features, unfortunately neither produced any dating evidence. The depth and width of the ring-ditch are however consistent with it being part of a roundhouse-type structure. Several narrow straight and curvilinear gullies identified to the south of this enclosure were also interpreted as potentially structural features. These include a much smaller probable ring-ditch with an extrapolated diameter of c. 4.60m. Although these features also produced little dating evidence a Roman date seems reasonably likely given the nature of the surrounding remains.
Other potentially Roman features of interest include a substantial probable ditch that was identified within the large prehistoric ring-ditch. This feature produced a number of Roman finds and would have represented a substantial earthwork, being 4m wide, c. 1.8m deep and its fills providing evidence for an associated bank on its eastern side. Although its alignment was not entirely clear it was possibly a continuation of a north-west to south-east aligned cropmark feature identified immediately to the north. It is suggested that given its position this possible enclosure ditch could have been associated with a beacon or signal station.
The Roman pottery recovered is indicative of a relatively short period of occupation during the early to middle 2nd century AD. The size and composition of the fine ware assemblage suggests that this was not necessarily a typical rural settlement and it is tentatively suggested that the vessels present, along with the restricted chronology are possible comparable with patterns observed elsewhere on sites that were associated with the Roman military. Evidence for activities taking place on the site includes an assemblage of smithing slag which was recovered from a number of the Roman features, the bulk of which come from one of the southernmost trenches. A small assemblage of probable roof tiles was the only evidence for substantial structures on or near the site.
There was remarkably little evidence for post-Roman activity on the site, with only single sherds of medieval and post-medieval pottery recovered. Inevitably only a proportion of the excavated features could be convincing assigned to a particular phase of activity. The undated features included ditches, post-holes, small pits and a number of natural features. It is likely that many of these were associated with the Roman period phase of activity.
See report (S1) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2025.159).
P. Watkins (HES), 1 February 2018. Amended 24 August 2025.

June 2014. Excavation.
Excavation of southern half of proposed development site.
Details awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 February 2018.

February-March 2016. Excavation.
Excavation of northern half of proposed development site.
Details awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 February 2018.