NHER 11169 (Find Spot record) - Unprovenanced Mesolithic and potentially Mesolithic objects (Norfolk, poorly located)

Variously Mesolithic or potentially Mesolithic objects known to have been recovered in Norfolk, but with little or no additional information regarding provenance.

FINDS IN THE NORWICH CASTLE MUSEUM

The Norwich Castle Museum Fitch Collection includes an unprovenanced quarzite pebble macehead from Norfolk (NWHCM : 1894.76.839). This is 3 3/4in [9.5cm] long. Information from (S1). This object is described in the museum's records as a "Neolithic rudely oval shaped stone hammerhead, the ends of which are flattened by use". These objects are now generally seen as not closely datable, having been found in both Mesolithic and later prehistoric contexts.
Previously recorded as NHER 11189.

The Norwich Castle Museum also holds a collection of 22 Mesolithic worked flints that were found the collections of the Stamford and Grantham Museums (NWHCM : 1999.33). These include 1 microlith, 1 backed bladelet, 1 failed microburin and microlithic debitage. Information from museum records. Probably identified by P. Robins (NCM). Possibly Kelling finds?

The Hook Collection of prehistoric objects includes a number of Mesolithic flint microliths from unknown sites in Norfolk (NWHCM : 1996.143). Information from museum records.

FINDS IN OTHER MUSEUM COLLECTIONS.

According to (S2) the British Museum hold Mesolithic flint "microlithic waste" from an unknown site in Norfolk.
Previously recorded as NHER 11513.

OTHER DISCOVERIES

Pre 1960s. Stray Find.
In 1981 the Norwich Castle Museum was shown a number of worked flints that had been collected by E. Pubby prior to the 1960s. The unprovenanced finds included:
1 Mesolithic flaked flint axe.
Identified and compiled by F. Healy (NAU), December 1981. Retained by [1].
Previously recorded under NHER 17805.

Pre 1972. Stray Find.
Found by J. E. Sainty. Unknown provenance but likely to be from North Norfolk:
1 Mesolithic chipped axe of tranchet type (but without tranchet edge), brown flint. See copy of sketch (S3).
See by T. Clough (NCM) in 1972, when it was in the possession of [2].
Information from (S2).

Early 1970s. Stray Find.
Found by [3] when digging electric cable trench, location unknown:
Base of red deer antler with ovoid perforation (measuring approximately 3.5 x 2cm) near proximal end, more or less parallel to brow tine, which is broken off. Distal end cut off obliquely to form once sharp edge. Cut distal end much polished and scratched as if by use. Probably a hafted axe.
See copies of drawings (S4) and (S5).
Similar to material recovered from in the Norfolk Fens around Feltwell (NHER 5265; NHER 5235; NHER 17531) and at Burnt Fen, Cambridgeshire (S6).
Identified by F. Healy (NAU), 20 September 1984 and compiled by E. B. Green (NCM), October 1984.
Information from (S7).
Previously recorded as NHER 20906.

Pre 1988. Stray Find.
A large number of antiquities were put up for sale for Fox & Co. (Yeovil) in 1988. The catalogue (S8) lists a number of objects as being from (or potentially from) Norfolk, although in most cases no further information regarding provenance was known. The unprovenanced Norfolk finds included:
1 prehistoric sandstone mace with 'hour glass' perforation. Norfolk. Although listed as a Neolithic mace the description and accompanying photograph suggest that this is probably what would commonly be described as a pebble mace. These objects are not closely datable, having been found in both Mesolithic and later prehistoric contexts.
10 Mesolithic to Late Neolithic "arrowheads and points of various shapes and sizes". From Norfolk/Suffolk border area.
Previously recorded under NHER 25141.

Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 26 July 2014.