NHER 29057 (Monument record) - Prehistoric pits, possible Bronze Age hearths and multi-period finds

1991 to 1992. Watching brief. Norwich Southern Bypass. Sites 31-41.
Watching brief work, including metal detecting, was undertaken by the Norfolk Archaeological Unit during the construction of the Norwich Southern Bypass.
Five pits of possible prehistoric date were unearthed during the watching brief and excavated. A notable amount of later Bronze Age pottery was discovered in these features, which is rare in Norfolk. The pottery was of the 'post Deverel-Rimbury' style. Radiocarbon dating of associated charcoal indicated a date of 1520-1220 BC (GU 5290; 3110 +- 60BP) (S2).
"Differential firing" (S2) on the pottery sherds suggest that this may be a deposit of pottery production kiln waste.
Three of the five pits excavated held of 1kg of pottery each. One of these pits was round and bowl-shaped, and held nearly 5.5kg of pottery. The radicarbon dated charcoal came from this feature. Another of the three pits was placed between two burnt areas, possibly hearth bases.
In total, 780 sherds of pottery were found in the five pits. There were large variations in "colour and surface finish" (S2). 7 sherds were decorated. Approximately 30 vessels were identified, with rim diameters ranging between 10-35cm. This pottery assemblage dating to the later Bronze Age is rare in Norfolk archaeology. There are strong similarities between these finds and those from Stansted, Essex, indicating a date of later second-early first millennium BC. The pottery appears to be post-Deverel Rimbury type. This pottery has possibly been adapted from larger Deverel-Rimbury urns into pots with a broad range of domestic uses, a phenomenon also seen at Grime's Graves, however the pottery at this site is smaller.
There was no conclusive evidence for pottery production, such as wasters, found at this site. Alternatively, the site may be oven waste.

1991 to 1992. Watching brief and metal-detecting.
1 prehistoric notched blade, blade, 53 flint flakes, 5 debitage, core, burnt flint, and charcoal.
47 Late Prehistoric pot sherds.
10 Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age pot sherds.
2 Bronze Age socketed axeheads, chisel, 3 metal working debris.
Late Bronze Age pot sherds.
74 Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age pot sherds.
2 Iron Age pot sherds.
2 Roman coins (as of Vespasian and coin of Magnetius/Decertius)
Medieval vessel and buckle.

See unpublished document (S1) for further details.
See published monograph (S2) for summary of watching brief work.
E. Rose (NLA), July 1992, amended A. Henderson (HES) 2 December 2024.

It should be noted that the undated pits interpreted as possible prehistoric hearths appear to have been similar to features now thought to represent traces of small-scale charcoal production - examples of which have been uncovered at numerous other sites in the Norwich environs. These shallow pits are generally sub-circular in form and characterised by patchy heat scorching of their margins and fills containing large quantities of relatively fragmentary wood charcoal (invariably almost exclusively oak). Radiocarbon dating suggests that these probable charcoal clamps were associated with industries of Middle Saxon to early medieval date.
A. Henderson (HES) 4 December 2024.