NHER 64579 (Monument record) - Potentially prehistoric ring-ditch, Early Neolithic pit and area of probable medieval settlement and associated field system

November 2015. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of large proposed development area.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 5 May 2023.

August 2017-March 2018. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of large possible development area.
The survey of these three fields identified a range of anomalies that are likely to represent archaeological-significant sub-surface remains.
A positive curvilinear anomaly at TM 1955 9406 in what is now the north-western corner of the middle field is likely to represent a ring-ditch or circular enclosure. This feature has a diameter of 27m and is regarded as potentially prehistoric.
This survey also identified a dense complex of north-west to south-east and north-east to south-west aligned linear anomalies at the east end of the middle field, adjacent to the Norwich Road. These anomalies appear to represent a network of small enclosures, including two well-defined rectilinear enclosures measuring c.17m by 8m. It is suggested that these remains were associated with an area of medieval settlement, which is supported by the previous recovery of pottery sherds of 13th- to 14th-century date along a narrow strip adjacent to the road (NHER 14119). A dense complex of relatively high magnetic responses along the line of the road may indicate the presence of surviving sub-surface structural remains.
Two north-west to south-east aligned positive linear anomalies extend westwards from the main group of enclosures and three similarly-aligned anomalies were identified in the adjacent fields. These parallel boundaries appear to have defined a series of relatively narrow plots or fields extending back from the road-side settlement. A roughly north-to-south aligned, slightly curving linear anomaly identified towards the western end of the southern field appears to represent a boundary that formed to western edge of these fields. It is clear from the position of these boundaries that several extant and recently-lost field boundaries were once part of this potentially medieval field system.
Other linear anomalies correspond with field boundaries marked on either the Stratton St Michael Tithe map of 1838 (S2) or the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map and two correspond with boundaries that were extant until relatively recently.
A number of discrete positive anomalies were also identified that are likely to represent infilled pit-like features. The majority lay within or close to the complex of enclosures close to the road, with only scattered examples in the surrounding land.
A strong dipolar anomaly with a characteristic thermoremanent-type response identified at the western end of the middle field may represent the remains of a hearth or kiln-type fearture.
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 31 January 2021.

August-November 2020. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed route of A140 Long Stratton Bypass (Trenches 84 and 85).
Two trenches were excavated at the eastern end of the middle field, within the group of probable enclosures identified by the preceding geophysical survey, adjacent to the Norwich Road.
These trenches revealed substantial north-west to south-east and north-northeast to south-south-west aligned ditches likely to represent elements of the southernmost roadside enclosure. Another north-west to south-east aligned ditch coincided with a linear geophysical anomaly that appears to represent a smaller enclosure adjacent to the road. These ditches all produced small assemblages of medieval pottery. A number of probable pits were recorded within the larger enclosure, several of which produced medieval pottery (in two cases reasonably large assemblages).
In total more than 150 sherds of predominantly medieval pottery were recovered from the features excavated at this site. These include two sherds of 11th-century date and a significant number of early medieval sherds - demonstrating that sustained activity had commenced at this location by at least the 12th century. One group of pits produced predominantly early medieval pottery and was therefore likely to have been associated with this initial phase of activity. All of the enclosure ditches did though produced at least some high medieval pottery. Late medieval and post-medieval material was notably absent.
Other finds from the features of probable medieval date included small quantities of animal bone, oyster shells and fragments of lava quern. One medieval pit also produced fragments of fired clay that looked to be from a cylindrical object similar to a Bronze Age loomweight (although such a date is highly unlikely given the context of this material).
The one potentially earlier feature was an undated north-east to south-west aligned ditch, the orientation of which was clearly different to that of the surrounding medieval ditches.
Unstratified finds were limited to possible flint knife of Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date single sherd of medieval pottery
See report (S4) for further information and NHER 68109 for details of various unstratified finds recovered during this work (for which the report gives no locational information).
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2021.2).
P. Watkins (HES), 5 May 2023. Amended 20 February 2024 and 24 August 2025.

March-April 2024. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of part of large proposed development site (Trenches 1-26). This phase of work was focused on the south-west part of the site, although several trenches were also excavated along the proposed route of an access road crossing the central portion of the field.
Archaeologically-significant remains were only uncovered within 11 of the 26 trenches excavated at this location, with the majority of the excavated features found to contain little or no dating evidence. One notable exception was an isolated small pit that produced more than 50 Early Neolithic pottery sherds and a small assemblage of potentially contemporary worked flints. A sample from the fill of this feature was found to contain abundant charcoal along with occasional charred wheat grains, brassica seeds and nutshell fragments. Prehistoric worked flints were recovered from various other features, although the quantities were limited and it is likely that most of this material was residual.
A number of the ditches recorded corresponded with anomalies identified by the preceding geophysical survey, including three of the parallel west-north-west to east-south-east aligned responses that clearly represented the boundaries between a series of narrow fields. A north-north-east to south-south-west aligned ditch close to the eastern edge of the site corresponded with another linear anomaly and likely represented the western side of a smaller plot or enclosure associated with the previously identified medieval roadside settlement. Several other ditches were associated with a pair of parallel, slightly curvilinear north-to-south aligned linear anomalies that represented a boundary forming the western limits of the narrow fields extending westwards from the Norwich Road - the line of which appears to be continued to the north by a slightly sinous former field boundary shown on the Stratton St Michael tithe map (S2). It is possible that these ditches bounded some form of trackway, although one was considerably more substantial than the other. This larger ditch was found to contain two small sherds of Middle Neolithic Impressed Ware (Peterborough Ware) pottery and a sample from its fill produced a small assemblage of prehistoric flint micro debitage (but little in the way of charred plant macrofossils). This prehistoric material is though most likely residual, given the apparent relationship of this feature to the medieval to post-medieval field system.
The one closely dated ditch is a north-north-east to south-south-west aligned feature that corresponds with a former field boundary depicted on the Stratton St Michael tithe map (S2).
Undated features included an isolated pit, a large possible extraction pit or natural feature and several additional ditches.
See report (S5) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 24 June 2025.