NHER 65422 (Monument record) - Multi-period and undated remains

January 2018. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site of proposed quarry extension (Area 3).
This survey identified four linear anomalies, all of which correspond with former field boundaries depicted on an estate map of 1770-71 (S1). These can also be seen on a range of subsequent, 19th-century maps.
It appears there were no other potentially archaeologically-significant anomalies were detected.
Details from (S2). Report awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 24 February 2022.

January 2019. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site of proposed quarry extension (Area 3; Trenches 29-68).
The 40 trenches excavated at this location revealed a range of ditches, pits and post-holes, although unfortunately the majority of these produced little or no dating evidence. These remains were fairly widely dispersed, although more pronounced clusters of discrete features were recorded in some trenches.
A fairly small assemblage of worked flints provided evidence for at least limited activity during multiple prehistoric periods, with blade-like flakes of probable Mesolithic/Early Neolithic date recovered as well as later debitage. Much of this material was though probably residual in later features. A notable exception was a linear group of intercutting pits in the south-western half of the site, one of which produced a single sherd of Late Neolithic pottery and 33 potentially contemporary flints (all flakes and pieces of irregular waste). These features were possibly related to a curving ditch and a number of other pits and post-holes that lay nearby, although none of these produced any clear dating evidence. Other potentially prehistoric features included a cluster of pits and possible post-holes located towards the north-eastern end of the site, two of which produced small quantities of Late Neolithic pottery. Two features in a loose group of pits and post-holes at the south-western end of the site also produced single sherds of probable Early Iron Age pottery. These features were potentially associated with a nearby curvilinear feature that was possible part of a small ring-ditch.
There was clear evidence for Roman activity on the site, with pottery of this date recovered from a number of features in the north-eastern half of the site; albeit in only small quantities. These features included a cluster at the north-eastern end of the site, several of which produced early Roman pottery [1]. One of these pits produced the upper stone from a small Roman Legionary-type Mayen lava quern. This appeared to have been deliberately placed on two stones, one of which was a rubber that has probably been used with a saddle quern. The reason for this curious combination of objects was unclear, although it seems unlikely to have been coincidental. Another find of note from this group of features was a clay object that was possibly a piece of kiln or oven furniture.
Small quantities of Roman pottery were also recovered from features approximately 150m south of this group.
Evidence for activity between the Roman and post-medieval periods was largely limited to a large pit at the north-eastern end of the site that produced two sherds of handmade pottery of Early to Middle Saxon date. A small quantity of similar pottery was also recovered from an unstratified subsoil context.
Several north-west to south-east aligned ditches and one perpendicular linear feature clearly corresponded with former field boundaries that can be seen on the late 18th-century estate map (S1) - all but one of which had also been identified by the geophysical survey. It is likely that many of the other, similarly-aligned ditches were of a broadly similar date - potentially representing boundaries associated with this field system that had already been lost by the time the map was drawn. The age of the remaining ditches is though difficult to determine due to their scattered nature and the paucity of the dating evidence. The material recovered from the various discrete features does though suggest they were potentially associated with more than one phase of activity.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 26 February 2022.

July 2019. Desk-based Assessment.
Cultural heritage assessment of site of proposed extension to Earsham Quarry (Area 3).
One notable source consulted as part of this study was a late 18th-century estate map (S1), which depicts the site in question.
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 26 February 2022.