NHER 64347 (Monument record) - Prehistoric finds and medieval to post-medieval ditches, pits and structural remains

June 2017. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
The nine trenches excavated revealed a range of archaeologically-significant features, including ditches, pits, large hollows and the remains of three clunch walls; the majority of which appear to have been associated with medieval to post-medieval phases of activity.
Potentially earlier remains were limited to a pit or ditch in the westernmost part of the site that produced a relatively unabraded assemblage of Early Neolithic pottery. A number of additional Early Neolithic sherds were also retrieved from a much shallower hollow at the edge of this feature. A number of medieval pottery sherds were also recovered, although these were most likely intrusive, particular as a post-medieval sherd was also recovered from the main feature. Evidence for activity during other prehistoric periods was limited to a small number of what were almost certainly residual finds, including potentially Mesolithic/Early Neolithic worked flints, a single Middle Neolithic pottery sherd and three Iron Age pottery sherds.
Ditches were identified across the site, all but two of which were aligned north-to-south. These features were not particularly well dated, although it is notable that only medieval pottery sherds were recovered. The various possible pits identified were also mostly poorly dated, although one cluster did include a feature that produced a number of medieval pottery sherds. Several large hollows in the westernmost part of the site were possibly the remains of large quarry pits and therefore potentially of a similar nature to the probable extraction pits visible as earthworks to the north (NHER 17436). Although only medieval pottery was recovered a later date for these features remains possible.
The three clunch walls were present in different parts of the site and were all aligned north-to-south. Two were associated with spreads of material interpreted as demolition debris. The function of the walls is uncertain; it is possible that they were the remains of buildings, although the apparent lack of any associated, parallel structural features makes this far from certain. The date of these remains is also unclear, although in two cases either the wall itself or an associated spread lay above a feature that contained medieval pottery – suggesting these structures were probably associated with a later medieval or post-medieval phase of activity. Other potentially structural remains included an unexcavated layer of clunch and brick that was identified in the south-west corner of the site. A brick of medieval/post-medieval date was recovered from this layer.
The pottery recovered during this work suggests that activity probably peaked during the medieval period, the assemblage being primarily of 13th- to 15th-century date, with only a small number of Late Saxon, early medieval and post-medieval sherds present. Few other medieval finds were recovered, with the lack of ceramic building material and metal objects being particularly notable.
A slot excavated across a previously recorded mound at the western end of the site (NHER 31963) suggested that this was most likely a natural feature. Although it was comprised of a clayey sand that appeared 'mixed' in nature there was nothing to suggest that it was other than naturally deposited material.
Information from report uploaded to OASIS. HER copy awaited.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2018.31).
P. Watkins (HES), 27 August 2020.