NHER 64893 (Monument record) - Remains associated with Roman farmstead, including large corn driers and numerous probable ovens

February 2013. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of large proposed development area (Little Plumstead Hospital West).
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 May 2021.

August-September 2016. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of part of large proposed development site (Trenches 7-19).
The 13 trenches excavated at this location revealed a range of linear and discrete features, the majority of which lay in the northern half of the site. Many of the datable features were Roman and the nature of the numerous undated features suggests that a significant proportion were of a similar age.
The features of probable Roman date included three clay-walled structures that were probably kilns or ovens of some kind. Unfortunately the largest of these could only be recorded in section, its associated deposits having apparently gone unrecognised during machine excavation. Its walls and floor were made of chalky clay and there was evidence for in situ burning at one end. Although its overall size and form were unclear it was more than 4m wide, suggesting it was most likely a particularly substantial corn drier-type structure (being of comparable in size to the largest known examples in the county). The clay-lined flue of a smaller, probable oven-type structure was identified in another trench, along with the partially exposed remains of what was probably a second, similar structure. The fills of these structures produced nothing to suggest an industrial function so they were interpreted as possible corn driers or malting ovens.
Although the majority of the discrete pit-like features were regarded as potentially Roman, only two actually produced Roman pottery. A significant proportion of the undated features regarded as probably Roman had dark fills containing charcoal and other burnt material, and in some case evidence for in situ burning.
Other probable Roman features of note included two adjacent linear features with burnt sides and deposits of charcoal on their bases. One produced eight sherds of Roman pottery and they were tentatively interpreted as beam slots in which timbers had been burnt in situ.
Potentially Roman ditches included two north-west to south-east aligned features in the north-western part of the site. The bulk of the ditches exposed elsewhere were however aligned east-to-west and north-to-south, and although several of these were also of probable Roman date the finds recovered elsewhere suggest that at least two were probably post-medieval. These later finds include fragments of post-medieval roof tile recovered from one of three adjacent east-to-west aligned ditches and fragments of post-medieval glass found in a north-to-south aligned feature.
Other post-Roman features included a group of intercutting probable quarry pits in the south-west corner of the site that produced medieval pottery. A large (unexcavated) modern pit was also noted in the north-west corner.
Unstratified finds were limited to a small number of Roman and post-medieval pottery sherds and bricks of 19th- to 20th-century date.
The Roman pottery recovered suggests that most of the excavated features were probably associated with activity that took place between that late 2nd and 3rd centuries. The only other Roman finds recovered were a small number of probable tegula roof tiles, suggesting these remains were most likely associated with a farmstead of only modest status.
See report (S3) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.353).
P. Watkins (HES), 4 May 2021.

January 2017-March 2018. Excavation
Excavation of substantial area where the preceding evaluation had identified a concentration of probable Roman features. This work was carried out in three phases and revealed a range of Roman remains including boundary and enclosure ditches, a substantial corn drier, probable ovens, pits and ephemeral structural remains. Although the pottery assemblage suggests that the site was occupied throughout the Roman period it appears that the main phase of activity occurred from the late 2nd century onwards.
Evidence for pre-Roman use of the site was largely limited to a small assemblage of worked flints likely to represent very limited activity during several prehistoric periods. Iron Age material was essentially absent, with a triangular loomweight and two sherds of Late Iron Age/Early Roman date the only finds that could potentially date to this period.
The small number of features that could be tentatively assigned an early Roman (that is mid 1st to 2nd century) date included several ditches that appear to have defined a rectilinear enclosure and possibly a small number of the discrete features. The bulk of the excavated remains were however likely to have been associated with subsequently phases of activity. The later Roman period saw the first enclosure superseded by a series of ditches that potentially demarcated a number of new enclosures, although these maintained the north-to-south and east-to-west alignments of the earlier features.
One of the most significant later Roman features was a substantial sub-rectangular clay-walled corn drier with two flues (elements of which had been mistaken for two separate ovens during the preceding trial trenching). Each flue had a fire pit at its entrance, close to which the clay walls of the channel were notable heat scorched. The walls of the large square (1.80m wide) central chamber were also heat scorched, although it was unclear whether this was due to it containing an additional heat source or the result of a destructive fire that had damaged the structure. Samples taken from the fills of this structure were found to contain large quantities of wood charcoal, along with moderate to abundant concentrations of charred cereal grain. Wheat was the dominant species but small amounts of barley, oat and spelt/emmer wheat were also present. Some chaff was also present, along with carbonised weed seeds, although the quantities of the latter were generally low. It is highly likely that the large clay-walled structure seen in section during the evaluation was a corn drier of similar size and form but unfortunately the remaining elements of this structure were destroyed by groundworks before they could be investigated.
This site is also notable for the presence of several clusters of features interpreted as possible ovens. These were of predominantly elongated or ‘keyhole’ shape in plan and in many cases were associated with the remains of a clay lining and/or evidence for in situ burning. The wide dispersal of these features and the fact that those in several groups were intercut suggests that they were associated with activities that place over a protracted period. Samples taken from the fills of these features also produced a range of charred plant macrofossils including moderate numbers of cereal grains and weed seeds (largely those associated with cultivation) and small amounts of chaff. It is possible that at least some of this material represents the use of crop processing debris and other cereal waste as fuel.
Post-holes and post-pads were identified across the site and it is likely that a number of distinct clusters represented the remains of structures of some kind, although in most cases their form and function remains unclear. At least some of the post-holes were potentially associated with free-stranding structures such as fence and windbreaks. Although no obvious building plans were discernible there were several clusters of features that potentially represented the remains of more substantial structures, including a group of post-pads identified close to the one of the clusters of ovens at the northern edge of the excavation. Features interpreted as a beamslot and a post-slot were also potentially associated with one or more building present at this location.
The rich environmental evidence recovered from the various sampled deposits provides clear evidence that the cultivation and processing of wheat and barley had been significant activities. Fragments of querns made from both millstone grit and lava stone were also recovered from a number of the excavated features, providing further evidence for the processing of cereals on the site.
Other finds of probable or definite Roman date included a small assemblage of brick (mostly recovered from a large hollow), two coins, a copper alloy netting needle, several fragments of as yet unidentified vessel glass and number of iron nails. Also of particular interest were sherds from a ceramic bowl made to imitate a metal cauldron. These were found within a pit associated with one of the possible post-hole structures and potentially represented some form of votive deposit.
The animal bone assemblage was fairly fragmentary with the pieces identifiable to species consisting mostly of loose teeth fragments. A large proportion of the bones recovered from oven fills also display varying degrees of burning. There was nevertheless evidence that the farmstead made use of a range of species, including cattle, sheep/goat, pig, chicken and horse. The presence of the remains of at least one young horse is of interest, as it suggests that horses were being bred in this locality.
Evidence for metal-working was notably absent, providing further evidence for an agrian focus to activity at this location.
A final phase of activity was represented by parallel west-north-west to east-south-east aligned ditches likely to have flanked a route way of some kind, one of which appear to turn to the north at its eastern end to form a field or enclosure boundary. These truncate the various Roman enclosures and although it is suggested that they represent a final phase of Roman activity the presence of post-medieval finds indicate they may well present boundaries of much more recent date.
See Assessment Report and Updated Project Design (S4) for further details. Final reports awaited.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2019.245).
P. Watkins (HES), 5 May 2021.