NHER 64819 (Monument record) - Iron Age, Roman and undated features

March 2018. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey on route of proposed A47 Blofield to North Burlingham upgrade works (Area BLO1).
A short, curvilinear anomaly in the central part of the area examined was the only response of possible archaeological interest.
Linear anomalies parallel to the north-east boundary of the field are of probable agricultural origin.
Numerous, small, scattered ferrous anomalies are likely to represent modern ferrous debris within the topsoil.
Information from report uploaded to OASIS. HER copy awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 29 March 2021.

May-July 2020. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of route of proposed A47 Blofield to North Burlingham upgrade works (Trenches 1-7)
The seven trenches excavated at this location revealed a number of linear and discrete features, including three that were of probable prehistoric or Roman date.
A large broken fragment of an Early Neolithic decorated Mildenhall-type bowl recovered from a subsoil deposit represented the earliest evidence for activity on the site, although no remains of this date were identified.
Features that were probably prehistoric included a north-east to south-west aligned ditch that produced an assemblage of hand-made pottery of possible Iron Age date, and a pit containing sherds that were more confidently identified as Middle to Late Iron Age (most from a single vessel). The latter intersected with a north-to-south aligned ditch that produced a moderate amount of Roman pottery.
Other, undated features included an east-to-west aligned ditch, two pits and some form of large hollow. The large feature was partially exposed close to the curvilinear anomaly identified by the geophysical survey (which was not directly examined for some reason) and was of an uncertain nature. It is suggested that it could represent the corner of a feature associated with the geophysical anomaly. A single sherd of possible Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age pottery found on its surface was the only dating evidence recovered.
One of the smaller undated pits produced a small quantity of iron slag and fragments of fired clay.
See report (S1) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2020.103).
P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2021. Amended 27 July 2023.