NHER 62747 (Monument record) - Multi-period prehistoric and post-medieval remains

August 2016. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site.
This survey identified a number of curvi-linear anomalies that may represent ring-ditches. The size and form of these possible ring-ditches varies considerably, with some almost complete pennanular examples and other represented by only fragmentary curvilinear and semi-circular anomalies. These possible ring-ditches are similar in form to the curvilinear, somewhat fragmentary cropmarks of possible ring-ditches that have been previously mapped in this field (NHERs 49187 and 49188). There was however little direct correlation with the cropmark evidence as there was no evidence for sub-surface remains associated with the possible ring-ditches and there was also little trace of the various other fragmentary linear cropmarks mapped in this field (recorded under NHERs 45165, 50978 50980 and 50981). The small number of possible ditches recorded by the geophysical survey included a north-north-east to south-south-west aligned linear anomaly likely to represent a post-medieval boundary.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 10 May 2018.

January 2017. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
Archaeological features were identified in 21 of the 37 trenches excavated, with these pits and ditches likely to represent several distinct phases of activity.
There was clear evidence for prehistoric activity, with over 900 Late Prehistoric pottery sherds recovered as well as more than 300 worked flints. The bulk of the prehistoric pottery is likely to date to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age period, although a number of potentially Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age sherds are also present, along with around 100 of probable later Iron Age date. The worked flints include a small number of Mesolithic/Early Neolithic pieces but are mostly of later prehistoric date, with a significant proportion of the assemblage recovered from contexts that also produced Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age pottery.
The prehistoric features included three pits that produced sizable assemblages of Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age Beaker pottery. Two adjacent pits in one trench were particularly rich in finds, producing over 500 pottery sherds, 126 worked flints, a sandstone hone, burnt flints, burnt stones, a sizable assemblage of fired clay and several flint quern fragments with flat surfaces that had been pounded to make them abrasive for grinding. The fired clay appeared to have been structural rather than fragments of objects, with some of the pieces carrying external impressions from rods or other organic remains. Typically, the bulk of this material was recovered from dark, charcoal rich deposits, samples from which produced hazel nutshells and the charred seeds of weeds common on waste or cultivated ground. The third feature was a large pit that produced more the 50 Beaker sherds and a small number of worked flints. Although less charcoal-rich to the naked eye, a sample from its fill also produced charred hazel nutshell fragments and weed seeds. Another features of potentially broadly similar date included a small pit or post-hole that produced a single sherd of possible Early Bronze Age Food Vessel pottery and a small assemblage of flint debitage.
Features of probable Iron Age date included two pits identified in the same trench close to the eastern edge of the site. A sample taken from one of these pits produced charcoal, charred wheat grains and weed seeds. Although much of the Iron Age pottery recovered from these features and elsewhere could only be assigned a broad, Middle to Late Iron Age date range a proportion of the sherds display Late Iron Age traits. There is however little evidence to suggest that activity continued beyond the immediate post-conquest period, with only single Late Iron Age/Roman and Roman pottery sherds recovered. Medieval finds were also extremely scarce, with the small number of pottery sherds found mostly recovered from features of more recent date.
The majority of the ditches encountered were aligned north-north-west to south-south-east or east-north-east to west-south-west and were probably mostly relatively recent in date, many corresponding exactly with boundaries marked on the late 19th-century 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map. These features produced small numbers of post-medieval finds as well as a possible medieval floor tile and the majority of the medieval pottery sherds recovered. It is likely that at least some of the small number of differently-aligned ditches were associated with earlier phases of activity, although unfortunately none could be convincingly dated. Three of these undated ditches corresponded with linear cropmarks (recorded under NHERs 45165, 50980 and 50978) but the majority of the cropmarks investigated – including the possible ring-ditch at TM 5280 9953 (NHER 49188) – were found to have no associated sub-surface remains. There was a similar lack of concordance with the results of the geophysical survey, with only one of the curvi-linear anomalies recorded found to be associated with a sub-surface feature (which produced sherds of Bronze Age and post-medieval pottery). It was observed that many of the anomalies appeared to correspond with changes in the natural geological and it is therefore possible that these were also responsible for some of the cropmarks mapped in this field.
Although a small number of unstratified metal objects were recovered these were all post-medieval, modern or undated. One of the more notable recent objects was a military cap badge (Grenadier Guards) that may have been lost by a soldier stationed nearby during the Second World War (the Hopton Holiday Village on Warren Road being known to have been requisitioned by the military during the war).
See report (S2) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2022.264).
P. Watkins (HES), 10 May 2018. Amended 12 July 2023.

August 2019. Excavation.
A final phase of archaeological mitigation prior to the development of this site saw the excavation of three relatively small areas, each of which targeted remains revealed by the preceding trial trenching.
The first of these (Area A) targeted Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age and ?Iron Age pits recorded at TM 5272 9967. Neither of these features saw any further excavation and although several additional pits and three ditches were recorded these produced no clear dating evidence. Several of these features did though contain small numbers of worked flints, with these assemblage all being broadly consistent with a Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date. One of the ditches also produced a single sherd of post-medieval pottery.
The second excavation area (Area B) targeted a pit at TM 5283 9964 that had produced decorated Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age Beaker pottery. This feature also saw no further excavation. Although a number of additional discrete features were exposed these were all deemed to be of natural origin. A north-east to south-west aligned ditch exposed at this location had also been recorded by the preceding evaluation and coincides with a previously mapped linear cropmark (part of a group recorded as NHER 45165). Although two slots were excavated finds were limited to a small number of prehistoric worked flints (mostly small fragments recovered from a sample).
The third excavation area (Area C) targeted a further cluster of prehistoric discrete features at TM 5285 9959 that had produced a mix of Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age and Iron Age pottery. The only additional features recorded were an intercutting group of three pits. These produced more than 1000 prehistoric worked flints, the bulk of which were flakes and other smaller fragments of debitage. This assemblage is likely to represent debris from Late Neolithic flint working and includes Levallois cores, an axehead roughout and a number of axehead thinning flakes. The finished products had clearly been removed from this location, with only a single implement found (a retouched blade). A sample take from the fill of one of these pits produced only wood charcoal.
See report (S3) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2019.268).
P. Watkins (HES), 1 February 2023.