NHER 68329 (Monument record) - Medieval or later and undated ditches and pit

November 2022-April 2023. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks associated with installation of new water main (Area 4). This section of the pipeline was subject to archaeological monitoring as it coincided with cropmark enclosures at the eastern edge of this field that potentially represent an area of roadside settlement (part of a group of likely multi-period remains recorded as NHER 36732). It should though be noted that although the pipeline route passed through the main group of probable enclosures, only a short section of the south of these features was actually subject to archaeological monitoring (which only coincided with a single fragmentary east-to-west aligned cropmark). The reason for this is unclear, particularly as the section to the north would have also intersected with at least two north-east to south-west aligned cropmarks likely to represent elements of an earlier, potentially Roman field system.
The initial stripping of topsoil from the monitored section of the working easement revealed no archaeological remains but the subsequent excavation of a narrower trench through the remaining overburden exposed several ditches and a pit.
The four ditches recorded were all differently aligned, suggesting multiple phases of activity were probably represented. Dating evidence was limited to two sherds of possible early medieval pottery recovered from a north-east to south-west aligned feature at the southern end of the site and fragments of lava quern found in an adjacent north-north-west to south-south-east aligned ditch. A much more substantial north-north-east to south-south-west aligned ditch close to these features was undated, as was an east-to-west aligned ditch to the north. The latter was potentially associated with the cropmark noted above.
The single pit recorded was an unremarkable sub-circular feature that also produced no finds.
No unstratified finds were recovered at this location.
See report (S1) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2023.4). This archive does not include the finds, which have been retained by the landowner.
P. Watkins (HES), 20 May 2024. Amended 7 January 2025 and 5 March 2025.