NHER 63456 (Monument record) - ?Prehistoric, medieval/post-medieval and undated features

2004-2005. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Route.
See reports (S1) and (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 28 July 2015.

March-June 2009. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey on proposed line of the Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Site R7). This area was surveyed in order to investigate a recently-identified cropmark enclosure (NHER 51936). In this area the proposed route of the road also crosses an extensive linear cropmark feature (NHER 51933) that may correspond with one of the ‘entrenchments’ marked on the Mousehold Map of 1585 (NHER 9688).
A range of anomalies were identified in this area, although most are unlikely to be of any archaeological significance.
Small discrete dipolar anomalies detected across the survey area were almost certainly caused by fired or ferrous debris in the topsoil. The southernmost part of the survey area contained a high density of weak discrete positive anomalies that may well be geological in origin.
Although there was no evidence for sub-surface remains associated with the extensive cropmark at the southern end of the field (NHER 51933) it should be noted that a corresponding ditch was actually identified during subsequent intrusive works (see below), suggesting that the results of this survey should be seen as potentially unreliable.
See report (S3) for further details.
Previously recorded under NHER 16 June 2019.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 August 2015. Amended 16 June 2019.

April-August 2015. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Field R7).
Two of the trenches excavated were placed to investigate the possible enclosure visible as cropmarks at the northern end of the field (NHER 51936). One of these trenches revealed a substantial feature that was potentially associated with the main north-west to south-east aligned cropmark. It is though unlikely that this feature was an enclosure ditch as an adjacent trench failed to identify an evidence for the south-west to north-east aligned return suggested by the cropmark evidence. The date of the excavated feature is also uncertain. A medieval pottery sherd was the only find recovered from its primary fill but its upper fills contained a number of post-medieval and post-medieval/modern objects, suggesting that at the very least it had still been partially open during these later periods.
Three of the remaining four trenches were positioned to investigate the extensive cropmark at the southern end of the field (NHER 51933) that is potentially associated with one of the ‘entrenchments’ marked on the Mousehold Map of 1585 (NHER 9688). Despite the negative results of the preceding geophysical survey all three trenches revealed a corresponding ditch. This feature had a shallow 'U'-shaped profile and was not particularly substantial, with a maximum excavated depth of only c.0.2m. A single flint scraper of possible Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date was the only find recovered.
Other features exposed in the trenches at the southern end of the site included an undated pit with a compact layer of charcoal at its base and an undated possible ditch terminus.
No unstratified finds were recovered in this field.
See report (S4) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 June 2019.

January-September 2016. Strip Map and Sample Excavation.
Excavation of site on route of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Area 14).
This phase of work saw further targeted investigation of the extensive linear feature at the southern end of the site. A further four slots were identified, although as during the earlier work finds were extremely scarce, with only a single sherd of undated (but probably Late Bronze Age or later) prehistoric pottery recovered. The fills of this feature were also very leached, leading to the suggestion that it was potentially prehistoric in date. The single sample taken produced little of interest apart from several pieces of spheroidal hammerscale, which is debris associated with iron working.
Information from draft assessment report. HER copy awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 June 2019.