NHER 10597 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Broome Heath Neolithic Long Barrow

Neolithic long barrow
1858. Excavation.
In April 1858, Rev Greville J. Chester reported to the archaeology society that several tumuli had existed "on the heather on the borders of Broome and Ditchingham" but all but one or two had recently been "carted away". It was stated that they were removed for agricultural purposes and a quantity of charcoal was noted when removing one or two of them but no the workmen did not observe any archaeological objects or human remains.
Excavations at one of these were attended.
A large skeleton was found resting on the gravel at a depth of six feet. R. R. Clarke believed this suggested the excavated barrow may have been this long barrow.
The burial is believed to be of possible Saxon or Bronze Age date. Reddish brown hair remained on the skull. Staining on one side of the skull indicated the former presence of a copper object. No pottery or metal objects were recovered during the excavation.
Information from journal article (S25) and HER Record Cards and Notes.
Also summarized in the Victoria County History (S26) and journal article (S27)
Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 07 January 2025.

1935. Neolithic pottery sherds found.
1953. Neolithic pottery sherds and flints found (S14, S15, S16, S17 and S18).
1966. Neolithic pottery sherds and flints found (S19, S20, S21 and S22).
1974. Worked flint found, (S23).
1977. Neolithic pottery found (S24).
See full details, aerial photographs, schedule (S1) in file.
E. Rose (NLA), 14 February 1991.

January 1995. Earthwork Survey.
Survey by RCHME.
See report (S3) for details.
P. Watkins (HES), 10 March 2015.

Summer 1999.
Prehistoric flint flakes.
Prehistoric probably Iron Age pottery.
See file.
K. Hinds (NLA), 17 February 2000.

See also NHER 10624 and 10611.
J.Allen (NLA), 28 Sept 2000.

August 2000. Visit.
Completely covered in bracken, with some rabbit disturbance.
H. Paterson (A&E), 13 September 2000.

February 2001.
Management statement (S2) signed 10 February 2001.
H. Paterson (A&E), 14 February 2001.

July 2006. Norfolk NMP
An earthwork of a Neolithic long barrow is visible on aerial photographs (S4-S13). The grid reference for this earthwork has been amended from TM 3449 9133 to TM 3448 9131. A sub-oval earthwork mound is present. It measures 46m long by 24m wide and lies on a southwest to northeast axis. A linear earthwork, up to 5m wide and 43m long extends to its southwest, forming a ‘tail’ to the barrow. Although traces of a shallow surrounding ditch have been noted during ground survey (S3) it is not visible on the aerial photographs. This Neolithic long barrow is regarded as an outlier of the Chiltern / East Anglia distribution (S3). It is located on Broome Heath lying at approximately 5m OD on the gravel terrace of the River Waveney. Earthworks of Bronze Age round barrows (NHER 10611, 10624) are present 25m to the east of the long barrow and 270m to its south. A Neolithic enclosure earthwork also lies to its south (NHER 10602). An earthwork of another possible long barrow of very small size was located 50m to the northeast of the mound (NHER 43777). This second possible long barrow lay on a slightly different alignment and had been destroyed by quarrying by 1967 (S13). A group of World War Two weapons pits (NHER 43776) cut across the ‘tail’ of the main long barrow. By 1967 the adjacent quarrying had extended up to the northeastern edge of the long barrow mound and vehicle tracks were visible crossing the lower part of its slopes (S13). This long barrow is protected as a Scheduled Monument (S1).
J. Albone (NMP), 18 July 2006