NHER 9585 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of Arminghall Bronze Age ring ditches, possible Early Saxon settlement

NMP mapping has led to the cropmarks described below, together with others not previously recognised, now being recorded separately as follows: NHER 52485, the ring ditch marking a probable post mill site (SM 243); NHER 52481-2, the two ring ditches some distance to the southwest excavated in advance of the construction of the Norwich Southern Bypass; NHER 52484, the slightly trapezoidal enclosure; and NHER 52489-91, the linear features, which seem to represent two or more phases of field systems and trackways. The pits or possible grubenhauser/sunken feature buildings have not been recorded by the NMP, as their archaeological origin is too uncertain; they might equally represent natural solution features, several of which were excavated in the vicinity of NHER 52481-2.

1956-7. Cropmarks including ring ditches, possible site of medieval windmill and linear marks. Possibly grubenhauser.
1959. Negative excavation.
1978. Flint and post medieval sherds found.
1980s. Fieldwalking. Medieval and Roman sherds.

1990. Excavation.
Excavation of two ring ditches with Beaker sherds and pottery.
See published report (S1) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S2).

1991. NLA air photography of post mill cropmarks. Human skeleton found. Metal detector finds, medieval metalwork.

1991 to 1992. Watching brief. Norwich Southern Bypass. Site 66-73.
See unpublished document (S1) for further details.
See published monograph (S3) for summary of watching brief work.
E. Rose (NLA), July 1992

1992. Metal detector finds. Medieval coins, Early Saxon stamp.
1994. Metal detector finds. Medieval and post medieval coins and metalwork.

See schedule details, full detailed list and documents in file.
See 1:2500 as well as 6 inch overlay.

13 July 1993. NAU aerial photography.
Site of post mill and intersecting linear features are clearly defined.
The linears may be drainage channels relating to the mill.
The cluster of sub-rectangular pits to the south of the mill may be grubenhauser, as these features have previously been recorded in the area.
S. Massey (NLA), 8 February 2001.

27 July 1995. NLA air photography.
Cropmarks of postmill and associated enclosure/linear features visible.
H. Clare (NLA), 20 April 2001.

2 July 1996. NLA aerial photography.
Cropmarks of slightly trapezoidal enclosure with associated linears at [1]. The ground surface is covered by large sub-rounded pit-like features. These are similar to those identified by St Joseph as grubenhauser, although they may be geological or solution hollows. The pit/sunken features appear to sit within the corners of the enclosure, if these are Early Saxon sunken floor structures, then the enclosure may be of that date.
S. Massey (NLA), 26 July 2001.

24 June 1998. NLA aerial photography.
Cropmarks of postmill and associated linear features visible.
H. Clare (NLA), 24 April 2001.

February 2010. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks described above, together with others not previously recognised, are now recorded separately as follows: NHER 52485, the ring ditch marking a probable post mill site (SM 243); NHER 52481-2, the two ring ditches some distance to the southwest excavated in advance of the construction of the Norwich Southern Bypass; NHER 52484, the slightly trapezoidal enclosure; and NHER 52489-91, the linear features, which seem to represent two or more phases of field systems and trackways. The pits or possible grubenhauser/sunken feature buildings have not been recorded by the NMP, as their archaeological origin is too uncertain – they might equally represent natural solution features, several of which were excavated in the vicinity of NHER 52481-2.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 11 February 2010.

The Early Saxon pottery stamp found in January 1992 has been re-identified, from the polaroid photograph, as a Late Saxon/medieval padlock key, very similar to one from HER 28622 Wreningham found in September 2011.
A. Rogerson (HES), 31 October 2012.