NHER 20981 (Monument record) - Multi-period prehistoric finds

Pre 1972. Stray Find.
Curtis Field 90.
Found at approximately TL 692 914 (Context 6):
1 flint chisel and 1 barbed and tanged arrowhead.
Information from Curtis Catalogue (via F. Healy). See (S1) for further details on the Curtis collection.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 29 August 2013.

1977. Stray Find.
Finds from several locations:

In band across north edge of field on low sandhills a few feet above level of surround peat (Context 2; formerly part of NHER 12711, which continues to east):
Coarse pottery found following shallow ploughing. Described as Bronze Age by finder, but not seen by NCM.

On field surface at TL 6913 9153 (Context 3):
Part of slate Beaker-period bracer/wristguard. Described and illustrated in (S1). See file for photographs and copies of drawings by T. Gregory (S2) and F. Healy (S3).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 29 August 2013.

On field surface at TL 6928 9154 (Contex 4):
1 Beaker period wristguard of polished bone. Described and illustrated in (S1). See file for photographs and copies of drawings by T. Gregory (S4) and F. Healy (S5).

On surface of low lying ground south of sandhill at TL 6921 9149 (c. 5):
Object identified as a potentially Mesolithic bone harpoon head, 11.2cm long, max width 1.4cm. One side blunt and plain with seven barbs on opposing side and with a tang notched for binding. This object is fully described and illustrated in (S6). See file for photographs and copy of original drawing (S7). It should be noted that when this was shown to R. Jacobi and a colleague at Lancaster University both were independantly doubtful of the antiquity of the piece. The reasons for this doubt were the fact it was made on a fossil bone, that the barbs had been made by abrasion rather than cutting and that there is no other example of this form of tang. Listed in (S14) but no details recorded.
Previously recorded under NHER 12714.

These discoveries were first reported in (S8).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 29 August 2013.

Pre 1981. Stray Find.
From west end of field (c. 22).
Miniature Neolithic ground stone axe and discoidal ground stone implement. Described and illustrated in (S1). See file for copy of orginal drawings (S9).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 29 August 2013.

1984. Fenland Project fieldwalking.
Several discrete finds scatters identified:

Site FWL AW (c. 1).
General scatter over field. Odd flints including a bifacially flaked flint, possibly a blank for an arrowhead (found at TL 6906 9146). This site is not listed in the final publication.

Site FWL AU (c. 7; TL 6926 9147).
Scatter of large flints on top of ridge. This site is not listed in the final publication.

Site FWL AV (c. 8; TL 6928 9142).
On island only about 1.1m above peat. Odd flints and bone, 1 sherd prehistoric pottery. Flints include leaf-shaped arrowhead. This site is not listed in the final publication.

Site FWL 26 (c. 9; TL 6920 9143).
On ridge and spreading on to adjacent island. Moderate spread of flints, including one leaf arrowhead, sparse 'pot boilers', 2 indet. prehistoric sherds and very sparse bone fragments. Max. dimensions c 50m x 20m. The flints from this site were identified as being predominantly Early Neolithic.

Site FWL 27 (c. 10; TL 6923 9144).
Moderate to abundant spread of 'pot boilers' with sparse flints on ridge above peat. Max dimensions 18m N/S x 25m E/W.

Site FWL 28 (c. 11; Tl 6923 9154).
On side of ridge. Sparse scatter of flints and 'pot boilers', though latter adundant in one locality, and odd fragments of bone. Max dimensions 30m NW/SE x 15m NE/SW. A high proportion of the flint from this site was identified as Mesolithic or Early Neolithic.

Site FWL 29 (c. 12; TL 6924 9158).
On ridge above peat. Moderate spread of flints and 'pot boilers' with occassional fragments of bone and 4 sherds of indet. Prehistoric pottery. Max dimensions 35m NW/SE x 25m NE/SW. The flints from this site included pieces of Mesolithic and ?Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date.

Site FWL 30 (c. 13; TL 6934 9155).
On ridge above peat hollow. Moderate spread of 'pot boilers', sparse flint and the occasional fragment of bone. Max dimensions 20m E/W x 10m N/S. At least some of the flints from this site were potentially Early Neolithic in date.

Site FWL 31 (c. 14; TL 6937 9154).
On side of ridge above peat hollow. Sparse to moderate flint scatter with 'pot boilers' and bone. Max dimensions 18m NW/SE x 16m NE/SW. The flints from this site were identified as being predominantly Mesolithic/Early Neolithic.

Site FWL 32 (c. 15; TL 6930 9155).
On edge of peat hollow. Sparse to moderate spread of flints with sparse 'pot boilers' and very sparse bone. Max dimensions 28m SW/NE x 10m NW/SE. The flints from this site were identified as being predominantly Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age, although a small number of Mesolithic pieces were also present.

Site FWL 33 (c. 16; TL 6927 9153).
On side of ridge. Sparse to moderate scatter of flint, with moderate quantity of 'pot-boilers' and sparse bone fragments. Max dimensions 28m N/S x 24m E/W. The flints from this site were identified as being predominantly Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age, although a small number of Mesolithic/Early Neolithic pieces were also present.

Site FWL 34 (c. 17; TL 6928 9150).
On side of ridge where it bulges out into peat. Sparse scatter of flints and 'pot boilers' and very sparse bone. Max dimensions 20m NW/SE x 12m NE/SW. The flints from this site were not closely datable.

Site FWL 35 (c. 18; TL 6936 9145).
Small site on edge of ridge. Sparse scatter of flints and 'pot boilers' with occasional fragments of bone. Max dimensions 22m E/W x 10m N/S. The flints from this site were not closely datable.

Site FWL 36 (c. 19; TL 6936 9133).
On edge of peaty hollow. Moderate spread of flint, with only occasional 'pot boilers' and bone fragments. Max dimensions 32m N/S x 29m E/W. The flints were predominantly of Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date and included two Late Neolithic arrowheads (1 chisel, 1 oblique). A single sherd of grog-tempered Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age pottery was also recovered.

Site FWL 37 (c. 20; TL 6934 9140).
On side of ridge above peaty hollow. Sparse to moderate 'pot-boilers' and sparse flints. Max dimensions 25m E/W x 15m N/S. The flints from this site were not closely datable.

Site FWL 38 (c. 21; TL 6933 9133).
On edge of ridge. Moderate concentration of flints (predominantly Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age). Max dimensions 24m N/S x 20m E/W.

For further details see project archive (S10) and final publication (S11).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 2 September 2013.

1991. Stray Find.
Barbed and tanged arrowhead with serrated edges and missing tip. Found during farm work at TL 6940 9146 (c. 23). See file for copy of polaroid and sketch (S12).
W. Milligan (NCM). Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 29 August 2013.

Pre February 1995. Stray Find.
Found at TL 6915 9155. Neolithic minature polished flint axe (Secker Collection No. 438). Polished at cutting edge only, more extensively on one face. May have been cut down from a larger axe. Identified by P. Robins (NCM). See file for copy of sketch (S13).
E. Whitcombe (NLA), 5 March 2010. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 29 August 2013.