NHER 35206 (Monument record) - Possible Late Prehistoric burnt mound and Roman settlement

The results of fieldwalking at this site in 2000 and 2008 are now recorded under NHER 63387.
P. Watkins (HES), 29 May 2019.

September-November 2008. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Sheringham Shoals Offshore Windfarm Grid Connection cable (Trenches 34-36).
The northernmost of the three trenches excavated revealed probable occupation evidence in the form of a chalk surface and a number of post-holes. Fragments of burnt clay were present in several associated layers and similar material was also recovered from one of the post-holes and a pit. One of these clay-silt layers was also found to contain what appeared to be a complete hand made pot of probable Late Prehistoric or Early Saxon date. This was lifted in a block of earth but unfortunately appears to have received no subsequent examination. Fragments of burnt flint and animal bone were also recovered from the features and deposits exposed with this trench.
A ditch containing Roman pottery and animal bone was the only feature exposed in the other two trenches excavated.
See reports (S1) and (S2) for further details. This work is also noted in (S3).
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.361).
P. Watkins (HES), 5 June 2019.

May-July 2009. Excavation and Watching Brief.
Excavation of site on proposed route of Sheringham Shoals Offshore Windfarm Grid Connection cable.
At the northern end of the site a moderate amount of burnt flint could be the remains of a prehistoric burnt mound. A small number of flint blades, probably from prepared cores, may be of early Neolithic date. Other flint flakes struck with a hard hammer are likely to date to the late prehistoric period.
Most feature were of Roman date and included five ditches, six pits, a kiln, 10 post holes aligned north-south and two possible buildings. One building was composed of cill beams and post holes measuring c.25m long with chalk floors with chalk and flint walls. A possible flue and evidence of burning could indicate industrial activity. The second building was built on top of the 10 post holes. Both of the buildings had evidence of burning, as did the ceramics and building materials. A large quantity of Roman Samian ware pottery sherds was recovered and the majority came from undecorated jars and dishes indicating a possible late 3rd to 4th century date. Five copper alloy Roman coins were recovered dating from the mid-2nd century to the start of the 4th century. A single piece of tap slag from iron smelting in a bloomery furnace was found in the fill of a ditch but no other evidence of iron working was found. A small animal bone assemblage appears to have been primary and secondary butchery waste from domestic animals with cattle being the most abundant species. Charred plant remains retrieved from the Roman features all contained a moderate amount of cereal grains and may indicate that the production and processing of grain, mostly wheat, was taking place at this site. All of the Roman finds and features could suggest that the buildings may have formed part of a Roman farmstead.
Post-Roman activity was represented by a east-west field boundary and a set of tweezers or a 'page turn' bearing a runic inscription possibly dating to the 8th century and possibly of monastic origin.
Post-medieval finds from the site included a ?pearlware serving bowl with willow pattern of late 18th or 19th century.

The Roman masonary building was further defined during the monitoring of groundworks associated with the actual installation of the cable but no additional features were recorded.
Final report awaited. See assessment for further details (S2). The results of this work are also summarised in (S3).
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2010.81 or NWHCM : 2010.82).
S. Howard (HES), 30 June 2011. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 11 May 2019.

Further analysis of the runic tweezers or 'page turn' found at this location during excavations in 2009 showed that the object has a text of 30 Anglo-Saxon runes which can be translated as 'Read whoso may: Beaw inscribed these runes'.
This object is a particularly important in helping us to understand the development of a literate culture and of runic writing in England, including the recognition of a 'new' rune. Although what the text says may seem very simple, the first part implies a strong consciousness that reading is a difficult, acquired skill, and so is a challenge. This is particularly interesting given that the object may itself be a page turner.
See published articles (S4) and (S5) for further information.
A. Cattermole (HES), 20 July 2011. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 6 June 2017.