NHER 66895 (Monument record) - Prehistoric peat deposits and ?post-medieval ditch

July 2014. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of large proposed development area, which considered the results of both recent archaeological work and previous geotechnical investigations. This study demonstrated that this Fen-edge site lies adjacent to a substantial north-west to south-east aligned channel that filled first with glacial Boulder Clay and then a sequence of peats and alluvial deposits. A prehistoric timber structure revealed during work immediately to the east (NHER 52618) stood on or close to dryer ground on the south-west edge of this lower-lying area of Fen. An equivalent area of dry ground on the north-east side was demonstrated by a single borehole at TF 6412 1917 (approximately 550m north-east of this site), where no peat or marine clays were encountered. The exact extents of these areas of dryer ground are unclear at present.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 12 May 2023.

January 2020. Borehole Sample.
Window sampling undertaken to aid geoarchaeological interpretation of proposed development site.
As noted above the site lay on the edge of an area of Fen, with the southern portion overlying Pleistocene beach sands that slope away to the north. These deposits were overlain at the northern and eastern margins of the site by a thick woody peat indicative of alder carr (which was encountered at an elevation of -2.15m OD). Radiocarbon dating indicates this reed swamp had developed during the Neolithic, with wood from this deposit producing a date of 3084-2907 cal BC at 95.4% probability (SUERC-91996; 4364 ± 27 BP). This material (which is equivalent to the 'Lower Peat' deposits recorded elsewhere in the region) was overlain by marine clays, demonstrating a return to wetter conditions and the inundation of this portion of the site. Peat formation recommenced around 2000 BC with this second peat encountered at an elevation of -0.70m OD (equivalent to the 'Nordelph Peats' recorded elsewhere). Peat development continued across the site, advancing southwards over the sandy Pleistocene beach deposits. At some point in the Late Iron Age or early Roman period mud flat and salt marsh development recommended, sealing the peat deposits beneath alluvial silts and clays. Material from organic-rich silts overlying the uppermost peats produced an early Roman radiocarbon date of 131-324 cal AD at 95.4% probability (SUERC-91997; 1801 ± 27 BP). Successive inundations of the site deposited further silts and clays (the Terrington Beds), which reach a thickness of over 1.7m at this location. These alluvial layers are overlain by made-ground deposits.
The sequence of deposits revealed closely matches that recorded during excavations immediately to the east in 2012 (NHER 52618, details awaited).
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 12 May 2023.

September 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
A total of six trenches were excavated, all of which were placed in the southern half on the site, on what would have been higher, dryer ground in the past. Only a single feature was recorded – a substantial north-north-east to south-south-west aligned ditch. This ditch produced a medieval tile fragment but was most likely of later, post-medieval date (given that the environmental evidence suggests the site was likely to have been marginal land during the medieval period). Fragments of animal bone were also recovered from this feature.
The natural deposits encountered were consistent with the sequences revealed by the preceding window sampling. Peat deposits were encountered in the easternmost three trenches and at the northern end of the westernmost trenches. Elsewhere the sequence of alluvial layers directly above the sandy Pleistocene deposits. In the easternmost trench the peat deposits exposed was associated with waterlogged wood. Plant remains within a sample from this material primarily comprised peat fragments, with the small number of other identified remains including bramble seeds, wood fragments and pieces of herbaceous stem/root. The waterlogged wood was identified as root wood that had probably post-dated peat formation.
Finds from the alluvial layers and underlying material were limited to a small number of blade-like flint flakes of probable Early Neolithic date, one of which came from a peat deposit that also produced a single fragment of burnt flint.
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 12 May 2023.

An archive associated with the 2020 and 2022 phases of work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2020.68).
P. Watkins (HES), 27 April 2024.