NHER 63451 (Monument record) - Iron Age and post-medieval to modern features

June 2014. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of proposed development site comprising two fields to west of Green Lane West, Rackheath.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 16 June 2019.

August 2014. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development area.
Although several anomalies detected in this field are likely to represent sub-surface remains, these are almost certainly all of post-medieval to modern date. An area of disturbed ground at the northern edge of the field corresponds with a large former gravel pit that is marked on both the Rackheath Tithe map and the 1st Edition O.S map. A number of smaller anomalies elsewhere in the field appear to mark the lines of several former field boundaries. These boundaries were modern, being visible on aerial photographs and satellite imagery but not marked on any of the available 19th-century maps. It appears that they were only removed within the last five years.
No other potentially-significant anomalies were identified.
See report (S1) for further details. The results of the survey undertaken in the field to the north are recorded under NHER 61652.
P. Watkins (HES), 31 August 2016. Amended 15 June 2019.

August-September 2018. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site (Trenches 17-43).
The 27 trenches excavated in this field revealed only sparse, scattered remains.
The earliest evidence for past activity was a Mesolithic/Early Neolithic flint blade core that was found in an otherwise undated possible ditch. Several other worked flints that are probably of a similar date were found elsewhere on the site, although these were all probably residual within later deposit.
The only features of note were five dispersed sub-circular pits of varying depth, all of which had charcoal-rich fills. Although three of the features had thick, black layers at their bases there appeared to be no obvious heat-reddening of the underlying natural deposits. Samples taken from these features produced abundant charcoal fragments (possibly oak) but little else of note apart from some burnt flints and flint micro-debitage. Radiocarbon dates were obtained for samples of charcoal from two of the pits, both of which proved to be Middle Iron Age (357-116 calBC at 95% probability (SUERC-84164; 2163 ± 24 BP) and 401-233 calBC at 95% probability (SUERC-84165; 2281 ± 24 BP)). Middle to Late Iron Age radiocarbon dates were also obtained for two otherwise undated pits with charcoal-rich fills that were excavated in the field to the north (NHER 61652). It therefore seems reasonably likely that the other undated pits were also associated with an Iron Age phase of activity.
The exact nature of these features remains uncertain, although the apparent lack of evidence for any other contemporary activity suggests they were probably not domestic hearths. It is possible that they were associated with some form of marginal industrial activity such as charcoal production.
See report (S2) for further details. The results of trial trenching in the field to the north are recorded under NHER 61652.
The archive associated with this work is to be deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2018.327).
P. Watkins (HES), 16 June 2019.