NHER 63458 (Negative evidence) - Site with no evidence for archaeologically-significant remains

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Summary

Archaeological work between 2014 and 2017 revealed little evidence for surviving remains at this site, at least part of which was probably significantly disturbed during the 20th century. Geophysical surveys undertaken in 2014/2015 and 2017 identified extensive areas of magnetic disturbance likely to represent disturbed ground and ferrous debris, but few potentially archaeologically-significant anomalies. It is possible that this area was disturbed during, or immediately after World War Two, when it was surrounded by a series of satellite domestic sites associated with Rackheath airfield (see NHER 50740). A watching brief maintained during groundworks at the southern end of the site in 2015 suggested that this area had probably been subject to significant truncation during the 20th century. Aerial photographs taken in 1988 also appear to show some form of ongoing ground disturbance in the northern half of the site.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TG21SE
Civil Parish RACKHEATH, BROADLAND, NORFOLK

Map

2004-2005. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Road.
See reports (S1) and (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 June 2019.

May 2014-January 2015. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey on proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Area R4a).
This survey revealed no anomalies of obvious archaeological significance.
Extensive areas of magnetic disturbance likely to represent ferrous material were present, particularly around the margins of the area surveyed. Numerous discrete dipolar anomalies are also typical of the responses caused by modern ferrous debris. Other discrete areas of magnetic enhancement were likely to represent variations in the underlying geology and a series of parallel linear trends were probably agricultural in origin.
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 June 2019.

February 2015. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks associated with construction of two newt ponds at southern end of site.
No archaeologically-significant features or deposits were observed and no finds recovered.
There was evidence that this part of the site had seen severe recent truncation, with the ground level being markedly lower than the land immediately to the east and a disturbed topsoil containing a variety of modern debris lying directly on the natural geological deposits.
See report (S4) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.296).
P. Watkins (HES), 17 June 2019.

May 2017. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site to west of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Areas 4 and 5).
No anomalies of obvious archaeological significance were identified.
Although a small number of fragmentary linear trends could represent ditches, these anomalies were most likely the result of agricultural practices or other modern activity.
Large parts of the areas examined were affected by magnetic disturbance of a kind typically associated with 'made ground', where imported material has been spread across fields. This disturbance possibly occurred during or after World War Two, when this area was occupied by a series of satellite domestic sites associated with Rackheath airfield (NHER 50740).
See report (S5) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 June 2019.

May 2017. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of proposed development area.
Details awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 16 June 2019.

  • <S1> Unpublished Contractor Report: Penn, K. 2004. A Desk-based Assessment for a Stage 2 Environmental Assessment Norwich Northern Distributor Road (eastern routes). Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 932.
  • <S2> Unpublished Contractor Report: Penn, K. 2005. A Desk-based Assessment for a Stage 2 Environmental Assessment Norwich Northern Distributor Road (western and eastern routes: revised). Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 1065.
  • <S3> Unpublished Contractor Report: Harrison, D. 2015. Norwich Northern Distributor Road, Norwich, Norfolk. Additional Geophysical Survey. Archaeological Services WYAS. 2731.
  • <S4> Unpublished Contractor Report: Hickling, S. 2015. Gazebo Farm, Newman Road, Rackheath, Norfolk: Archaeological Watching Brief. NPS Archaeology. 2015/1010.
  • <S5> Unpublished Contractor Report: Gater, J. 2017. Geophysical Survey Report. Land at Green Lane West, Rackheath, Norfolk. SUMO Survey. 11177.

Site and Feature Types and Periods

Object Types (0)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Jun 18 2019 12:41PM

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