NHER 67903 (Monument record) - Undated ditches and pits

May 2015. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potential archaeological impact of proposed photovoltaic (PV) array (solar farm).
It is noted that the scheme has been designed to preserve the layout of the former airfield (NHER 7364). This site comprises an area demarcated by the ends of two of the runways. Part of the taxiway, dispersal pads and a road appear to have lain within this this area.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 22 January 2024.

May 2015. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site of proposed photovoltaic (PV) array (Area 1).
The most notable responses are a pair of adjoining north-east to south-west and north-west to south-east aligned linear anomalies that potentially represent ditches forming two sides of a rectilinear enclosure. A third, weaker linear anomaly potentially represented a third side of this enclosure. An 'L'-shaped anomaly to the north potentially also represents a ditch, although it is much weaker.
Two extensive, intermittent roughly east-to-west aligned linear anomalies were also recorded, the northernmost of which corresponds with a former field boundary depicted on 19th-century maps (reproduced in (S1)).
The only other potentially archaeologically-significant responses are a few discrete pit-type anomalies.
A large circular anomaly is believed to correspond with the location of a former bunker known to have been removed and infilled by the landowner.
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 22 January 2024.

September 2015. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of part of site of proposed photovoltaic (PV) array (Phase 1).
The 12 trenches excavated revealed little in the way of significant remains, with only a small number of ditches and pits recorded - the majority of which produced no dating evidence. There was little correlation between these results and those of the preceding geophysical survey, with no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with the linear anomalies thought to represent a rectilinear enclosure.
A large circular pit with a central post-hole contained modern material and was presumably associated with Oulton Airfield (NHER 7364), although its exact function is uncertain at present.
A small shallow pit with a dark, charcoal-rich fill is interpreted as a fire pit (although there appears to have been little evidence for in-situ burning). Burnt flint was recovered from this feature and large quantities of burnt flint were also noted with the subsoil during the excavation of this trench. A sample taken from the fill of this feature was found to contain wood charcoal but little else in the way of plant macrofossils or other remains.
See report (S3) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2018.57).
P. Watkins (HES), 22 January 2024.