NHER 62793 (Monument) - Multi-period features

August 2016. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development area.
This survey identified the remains of potentially prehistoric field systems and trackways, with many of the linear anomalies corresponding with previously identified cropmark features.
Large ferrous responses were potentially associated with the World War Two coastal and anti-invasion defences that are known to have been present in the vicinity.
Report awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 7 June 2017.

August 2017. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of large proposed development area.
The 33 trenches excavated revealed a range of archaeologically significant remains, many of which correspond with previously identified cropmark features and/or geophysical anomalies. Only two trenches revealed no archaeological remains. It should though be noted that corresponding sub-surface remains were only identified for just over half of the features that were predicted to be present. Whether these were misidentified, now truncated or simply not recognised during the evaluation is unclear. It was however noted that remains were generally reasonably well-preserved and that a subsoil deposit survived across most of the site; both of which indicate that recent agricultural activity has not resulted in excessive truncation.
Several trenches in the western field coincided with cropmarks of an extensive trackway of probable prehistoric date (NHER 43529). Corresponding sub-surface features were associated with the majority of the cropmarks investigated, including several quite substantial ditches. Unfortunately dating evidence was limited to a single pottery sherd of possible Early to Middle Iron Age date, although this is at least consistent with material associated with this trackway elsewhere. This trackway was potentially associated with an extensive complex of cropmarks believed to represent a Late Prehistoric or early Roman settlement and associated field system and trackways (NHER 43494). Although several cropmarks associated with this field system were investigated these were mostly scattered fragments, the main focus of activity having clearly lain to the south. The most notable feature identified was a substantial ditch that corresponds with a three-sided or incomplete enclosure at the southern end of the eastern field. This ditch produced an assemblage of fired clay briquetage of a type consistent with Late Prehistoric salt production. A single sherd of Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age pottery was also recovered from this feature. A number of scattered, fragmentary cropmarks potentially associated with this group were also investigated in the western field, but in most cases no corresponding sub-surface remains were identified.
Ditches excavated in 19 of the trenches can be associated with the cropmarks of an extensive, planned and co-axial field system that have been identified in both of the fields investigated and the surrounding land (NHER 43495). The remains of this field system are clearly well preserved, with most of the cropmarks investigated corresponding with reasonably substantial ditches. Unfortunately little dating evidence was recovered, finds being limited to a small assemblage of Late Iron Age or transitional pottery sherds and a single, presumably intrusive medieval sherd. Although limited, the dating evidence recovered during this work does at least appear to be consistent with the previously suggested phasing for the cropmark field systems present in this area, with this more regular co-axial field system believed to date primarily to the Roman period. No obviously domestic enclosures were identified within the evaluated fields and the general lack of finds or other cultural debris within the excavated features would also support the suggestion that this was primarily an area of agricultural activity. One of the trenches was also positioned to investigate one of several small cropmark ring-ditches that have been tentatively associated with this field system. The ring-ditch exposed was 8.3m in diameter, 0.56m deep and contained two relatively sterile, unremarkable fills. No finds were recovered and a sample produced only amounts of weed seeds and charcoal. The sterile nature of this feature and its small size both support the initial interpretation that these ring-ditches were most likely associated with agricultural structures of some kind, perhaps stack stands.
Trenches in the south-western corner of the western field revealed several east-to-west aligned ditches associated with an undated group of cropmark enclosures and field boundaries (NHER 43509). Unfortunately no dating evidence was recovered. Another ditch in this part of the site corresponded with one of the fragmentary cropmarks that couldn’t be associated with the main field systems (NHER 45203). This feature produced a single sherd of Iron Age pottery. Notable cropmark features for which for which no evidence was encountered include an oval enclosure or ring-ditch at the western edge of the site (NHER 45205).
Although discrete features were identified in many of the trenches the majority of these were interpreted as natural tree root hollows. The small number of more convincing pits included several potentially prehistoric features in the south-west corner of the site, two of which produced small amounts of Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age pottery. The proximity of these features to the prehistoric trackway is perhaps notable. The majority of the other probable pits were undated, the only other exceptions being two in the eastern field that produced post-medieval material. There was also evidence for extensive medieval or post-medieval quarrying in the central part of the eastern field. A deep hollow identified at TG 5226 0163 in the western field was probably either an infilled quarry or pond and corresponds with a feature marked on the First Edition O.S. map.
Unstratified finds recovered during this work included single sherds of Roman and medieval pottery and a small assemblage of post-medieval metal objects.
Information from draft report, final version awaited.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2018.44).
P. Watkins (HES), 7 June 2018. Amended 20 June 2020.