NHER 65668 (Monument record) - Post-medieval and undated features

October 2020. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site (Area 1).
This survey identified a number of linear and curvilinear positive anomalies in the central part of the field that potentially represent ditches forming a series of enclosures. A number of discrete anomalies recorded nearby may represent associated remains, although these are not necessarily archaeological in origin. The linear anomalies are close to a group of fragmentary cropmarks visible on aerial photographs and also thought to potentially represent enclosures and ditches of unknown date (NHER 52162). However, apart from one geophysical anomaly that possibly continues the line of a cropmark, there is little correlation between the two datasets.
The is also no evidence for surviving earthworks or sub-surface remains associated with an area of possible medieval ridge and furrow and/or strip fields visible as cropmarks in the northern half of this field (NHER 52163). A group of four parallel north-east to south-west aligned linear anomalies in this part of the site are interpreted as possible traces of ridge and furrow cultivation but their alignment is very different to that of the features apparently visible on aerial photographs.
A small number of discrete dipolar anomalies are likely to represent metallic objects within the soil, most likely modern debris.
The majority of the other anomalies identified are of probable natural origin.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 27 May 2022.

January-February 2021. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of part of large proposed development site (Trenches 1-20).
The twenty trenches excavated at this location revealed a number of scattered linear and discrete features, although the majority produced no dating evidence.
The ditches recorded included a north-north-east to south-south-west aligned feature that corresponds with a former field boundary depicted on the Swainsthorpe tithe map (S2). This produced a piece of late post-medieval pottery and several brick fragments. No finds were recovered from the other ditches, although the variety of alignments suggests they represent multiple phases of activity. Although a number of trenches coincided with the linear cropmarks mapped in this field (NHR 52162) there was little evidence for associated sub-surface remains. The one exception was a north-north-east to south-south-west aligned ditch that appears to have coincided with part of an 'L'-shaped cropmark mapped at TG 2207 0140. There was a similar lack of correspondence between the excavated evidence and the results of the preceding geophysical survey, with none of the ditches identified coinciding with the linear and curvi-linear anomalies thought to represent possible enclosures.
Although possible pits were identified in many of the trenches, these were mostly fairly unremarkable features, with finds limited to a post-medieval pottery sherd and a single roof tile fragment. A number of larger examples were most likely quarry pits of some kind. Samples from two of these more substantial features produced fragments of coal suggesting they were probably not of great antiquity.
See report (S3) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2021.11).
P. Watkins (HES), 27 May 2022.