NHER 63369 (Monument record) - Undated ditches, pits and possible natural features

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.

September 2008. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of proposed site of Norwich Northern Distributor Road borrow pit (Area 2).
See report (S3) for further details.
Previously recorded under NHER 50495.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 August 2015. Amended 9 May 2019.

March-June 2009. Geophysical Survey
Magnetometer survey on proposed line of the Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Site T2). Area examined in order to achieve representative sample of overall route.
None of the anomalies detected were of obvious archaeological significance.
Small discrete dipolar anomalies detected across the area examined were almost certainly caused by fired or ferrous debris in the topsoil. A strong dipolar anomaly at the north-east corner of the area was most likely due to the presence of a field gate. Weak linear and discrete positive anomalies were also detected; the former being most likely associated with cultivation practices, whilst the latter were of a more uncertain nature.
See report (S4) for further details.
Previously recorded under NHER 50495.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 August 2015. Amended 9 May 2019.

April 2012-April 2013. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey on proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Route (Block 48).
Examination of small block to north of area investigated in 2009.
This survey revealed little clear evidence for sub-surface archaeological remains. Although a range of anomalies were detected these were thought to be of predominantly agricultural or geological origin. The discrete dipolar anomalies detected are typical of the responses caused by the presence of modern ferrous debris.
See report (S5) for further details.
Previously recorded under NHER 50495.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 August 2015. Amended 9 May 2019.

April-September 2015. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Field T2).
Although ten of the twenty-three trenches excavated revealed sub-surface remains these produced virtually no dating evidence. The excavated features included four ditches or gullies, three pits, a post-hole and three hollows interpreted as tree throws. The largest of the possible tree-throw hollows contained a relatively large amount of burnt flint and similar material was recovered from another of these features. Two of the hollows contained other burnt material and at least one also had evidence for in-situ burning. A sample taken from a patch of burnt material produced nothing but charcoal. Although such features are often associated with prehistoric activity, one produced a fragment of post-medieval brick (the only datable stratified find from this site), so it is possible that they were associated with much more recent land clearance. Two of these features possibly corresponded with discrete anomalies identified during the 2009 geophysical survey, although this could be coincidental.
It is notable that all of the linear features were aligned either north-east to south-west or north-west to south-east, suggesting that they may have been associated with a single phase of activity. The other excavated features were sterile and largely unremarkable.
See report (S6) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 9 May 2019.