NHER 68495 (Monument record) - Medieval to post-medieval and undated pits and ditches

June 2019. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site (Area 1).
This survey identified nothing of definite archaeological significance. A number of linear anomalies were though recorded, including a north-north-east to south-south-west aligned response that corresponds with a former field boundary depicted on the Reepham tithe map (S1). A number of parallel and perpendicular linear anomalies are tentatively interpreted as potentially representing elements of an earlier enclosure. A sub-oval anomaly located at the north-east corner of this group may also represent an infilled ditch. Other linear anomalies include a pair of adjacent, parallel north-east to south-west aligned weak trends in the western half of the site. It is noted that, as with the other linear anomalies, these responses could well be of natural origin. A series of closely-spaced, parallel, west-north-west to east-south-east aligned weak linear anomalies are the traces of modern agricultural activity.
Several clusters of moderately strong discrete positive anomalies are also present in this field, which could represent infilled pit-type features.
Scattered discrete dipolar anomalies were probably caused by ferrous objects on or close to the surface (most likely modern debris).
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 September 2024.

August 2019. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site (Trenches 1-17).
The 17 trenches excavated at this location revealed a number of scattered linear and discrete features, many of which corresponded with anomalies identified by the preceding geophysical survey. The small number of finds recovered were mostly of medieval to post-medieval date. The only exceptions were two handmade prehistoric pottery sherds of possible Late Bronze Age date, one of which was recovered from an otherwise undated ditch or gully and the other from an unstratified context.
Virtually all of the ditches and other linear features recorded were aligned either north-north-east to south-south-west or west-north-west to east-south-east. A number clearly corresponded with previously identified linear geophysical anomalies, including a group that had been tentatively interpreted as ditches forming a rectilinear enclosure. Unfortunately these features produced little in the way of dating evidence, although late medieval roof tile fragments and post-medieval pottery sherds were recovered from similarly-aligned ditches elsewhere on the site. A number of the more ephemeral west-north-west to east-south-east aligned linear features coincided with geophysical anomalies thought to represent the traces of modern ploughing.
There was no evidence for sub-surface remains associated with the pair of adjacent north-east to south-west aligned geophysical anomalies recorded in the western half of the site.
The clusters of large discrete anomalies identified by the geophysical survey were shown to relate to probable quarry pits. These features produced a single medieval pottery sherd and several fragments of medieval to post-medieval brick and tile. An isolated undated pit in the south-east corner of the site was the only other discrete feature recorded.
The small number of other unstratified finds recovered included post-medieval pottery sherds and several additional medieval to post-medieval brick and tile fragments.
See report (S3) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2020.19).
P. Watkins (HES), 17 September 2024.