NHER 19168 (Monument record) - Possible Middle to Late Saxon settlement, prehistoric worked flints, Roman to post-medieval objects

1958. [1].
Source claimed that Roman sherds and slag, part of site NHER 3460 were found on south edge field north of church, but R. Silvester (NAU) could find no such finds in 1983 and suggests this was a mistake.

26 April 1983. Fenland fieldwalking.
Over field planted with sugar beet not yet growing, well weathered.
Odd sherds of Roman and medieval pottery.
Flints including good scraper.
Individual findspots plotted on Fenland overlay.
One sherd re-identifed as possible Middle Saxon, flints as Beaker period.

1984. Metal detecting finds. [2].
Include Late Saxon brooch, Roman coins, post medieval metalwork, undated metalwork.
See detailed list and (S1) in file.
A. Rogerson (NAU), October 1984.

1987. [2].
Further finds include medieval coin and post medieval? forgery.
See file for details.
E. Rose (NAU), 7 January 1988.

1996. Fieldwalking by source and students. Divided into two areas. [3].
Iron slag, Middle Saxon, medieval, post medieval sherds, one Roman sherd.
See list and (S1) in file.
E. Rose (NLA), 9 February 1999.

October 1998. Metal detecting. [4].
Late Saxon brooch, (S2).
Medieval and post medieval objects.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 4 December 1998.

Before 2011. Geophysical survey.
Three north-south aligned linear features were noted as parchmarks c.100m west of the eastern extent of NHER 19168, running over an average north to south distance of c. 90m. Each had an approximate width of 3m, and they seemed to curve on a common alignment slightly towards the east at their northern end. The features seem to represent boundary ditches; probably the main western boundary ditches of the Middle to Late Saxon settlement. Their common alignment suggests either the presence of a trivallate enclosure, or the periodic reinstatement of a key boundary feature. Beyond the northern extent of the three north-south anomalies two further cropmarks were identified, running broadly on an east-west alignment into NHER 17286 for observed lengths of c. 20m (western feature) and c.40m (eastern feature). If these features relate to the north-south aligned features, a potential northern side of a large sub-square, measuring a maximum of c.200 square metres, is implied. If this is a Middle to Late Saxon boundary the now isolated St. Michaels church would be placed in the south-west corner of an enclosure, possibly implying either a contemporaneous layout or later churchyard layout respecting earlier boundaries.
See (S3).
S. Howard (HES), 10 November 2011.

January-February 2019. Metal-detecting. [5].
2 medieval coins.
Information from PAS import.
E. McDonald (HES), 1 April 2019.

January-March 2023. Metal-detecting. [6].
1 post-medieval coin.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 9 March 2024.

November 2023-March 2024. Metal-detecting. [7].
Late Iron Age/Roman Colchester brooch.
Roman tweezers.
?Roman furniture fitting.
Late Saxon/medieval lead spindle whorl.
4 medieval coins, a strap end, harness-pendant hanger and casket key.
Medieval/post-medieval button.
Post-medieval button and knife end cap.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 28 August 2024 and 1 September 2024.