NHER 66884 (Find Spot record) - Multi-period finds

September-October 2021. Systematic Fieldwalking and Metal-detecting Survey.
Survey of arable land that once formed part of Oxburgh Hall Park, prior to it being put back to grassed parkland. This survey was undertaken by National Trust volunteers and local metal-detecting groups. Finds recovered in this field (The Golts) included:
3 undatable slag fragments, 3 unidentified copper alloy objects, 62 iron nails, 24 unidentified iron objects, 3 unidentified lead objects, 3 animal bone fragments and 3 oyster shells.
2 ?Early Neolithic narrow flint flakes/blade-like flakes.
1 ?Neolithic backed flint blade and 1 notched flake.
15 Neolithic/Bronze Age retouched flint flakes, 1 core, 48 flakes and 6 irregular pieces.
180 ?prehistoric burnt flints.
1 Roman pottery sherd.
2 Roman to post-medieval Colleyweston roof slate fragments.
1 Middle Iron Age La Tène 1B brooch.
1 Late Iron Age/Roman Colchester one-piece brooch.
1 medieval coin, 1 buckle, 1 ?casket mount, 1 ?fitment and 1 iron horseshoe.
2 post-medieval silver coins, 9 pottery sherds, 5 buttons, 1 ring, 34 iron horseshoes and 1 lead musket ball.
1 post-medieval/modern pottery sherd and 3 glass vessel fragments.
There was a notable concentration of burnt flints at the northern end of the field. The site’s proximity to the River Gadder means it is possible these represent part of a scatter of prehistoric 'pot boilers' – i.e. waste material from an activity where hot flints were used to heat or boil water. Another concentration was noted in the field to the west (NHER 58395).
This site also produced a fairly large number of ceramic building material fragments. The exact date and composition of this material isn’t recorded in detail, although it appears the assemblage was predominantly of post-medieval and modern date.
Information from report uploaded to OASIS. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 8 May 2023.