NHER 36991 (Monument record) - Probable Roman rectangular enclosure and multi-period finds

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Summary

Fieldwalking and metal-detecting between 2001 and 2015 recovered late prehistoric worked flint, including an Early Neolithic scraper and a Neolithic borer and knife; Iron Age, Roman and post-medieval pottery sherds; Roman roof and flue tile fragments; Roman window glass fragments; Roman and post-medieval coins; medieval and post-medieval jettons, post-medieval tokens and undatable, Roman and medieval to post-medieval metal objects. The metal finds include undatable metalworking debris, a spindle whorl and weights; Roman metalworking debris, bracelet fragments, finger rings, furniture fittings, nails, harness mount, cauldron fragment, coin blank, ferrule, spindle whorl and steelyard weight; medieval to post-medieval dress accessories; a medieval furniture fitting and harness pendant; a medieval/post-medieval lead weight, cauldron fragment and other copper alloy vessel fragments and a post-medieval crotal bell and harness mount. The ploughed-out base of an ironworking furnace, consisting of fragments of slag and clay fragments, was also observed. The quantity and type of Roman finds recovered from the site suggests that it was the location of a Roman settlement, possibly relating to the metalworking industry. A geophysical survey in 2002 identified a double ditched rectangular enclosure with three large pits, a number of smaller pits and two groups of possible pile holes within it. The large pits may relate to ironworking, while the postholes are likely to relate to buildings. A ditched road passes through the enclosure. An excavation in 2003 recovered further late prehistoric worked flint as well as Roman coins and objects, including a jet bead, brooch and a bridle bit.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TF81NE
Civil Parish GREAT DUNHAM, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK

Before 5 December 2001. Field observations and metal-detecting. In two adjoining areas.
Dark patches with associated slag, by inference Roman. Slag sample retained.
Neolithic worked flints.
Roman coins, sherds and few tiles.
Roman silver finger ring.
Iron Age sherd.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 3 March 2002.

October to December 2002. Fluxgate gradiometer survey.
Rectangular ditched enclosure containing three large pits (possibly related to ironworking?) plus some smaller ones and a group of parallel pile? Holes. In addition there are the side ditches of a road passing through the enclosure. Could this be part of the Fen Causeway (NHER 2796)? The alignment doesn't seem to be quite correct for this idea.
See (S1), (S2) and (S3).
A. Rogerson (NLA), 10 December 2002.

March-April 2003. Metal-detecting. Gridded survey.
Twelve Roman coins, including one blank. Chopped copper alloy rod suggesting irregular coin production.
One each post-medieval coin, token and jetton.
Medieval/post-medieval and undatable metal finds.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 16 June 2003.

Before 20 September 2003. Metal-detecting with GPS in west field.
Early Neolithic worked flints.
Twenty two Roman and four post-medieval coins.
One medieval and one post-medieval jetton.
Roman, medieval, post-medieval and undatable metal objects.
Iron Age and Roman sherds.
Undatable iron slag.
Roman tiles and window glass fragment.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 3 January 2004.

2003. Excavation.
See file for list of small finds made during archaeological trenching in 2003.
Report should follow.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 19 February 2010.

September 2014-March 2015. Metal-detecting. [1].
4 Roman coins and 1 pottery sherd.
Medieval strap-end and buckle.
Medieval/post-medieval lead weight.
1 post-medieval token.
Information from PAS import.
A. Beckham (HES), 4 August 2015.

  • --- Photograph: I & RS. Digital finds image.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • --- Unpublished Document: Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 2006. Treasure Annual Report 2004. pp 52-53; No 50; Fig 50.
  • <S1> Unpublished Document: Cott, P. J.. 2002. Geophysical Plot. Great Dunham Interpreted Features..
  • <S2> Unpublished Document: Cott, P. J.. 2002. Geophysical Plot. Great Dunham Core Data..
  • <S3> Unpublished Document: Cott, P. J.. 2002. Letter. East Lexham and Caistor St Edmunds.. 1 December.
  • BORER (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • FLAKE (Early Neolithic - 4000 BC to 3001 BC)
  • FLAKE (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FLAKE (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • KNIFE (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • RETOUCHED FLAKE (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
  • SCRAPER (TOOL) (Early Neolithic - 4000 BC to 3001 BC)
  • SCRAPER (TOOL) (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
  • SCRAPER (TOOL) (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • POT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Unknown date)
  • POT MEND (Unknown date)
  • SPINDLE WHORL (Unknown date)
  • WEIGHT (Unknown date)
  • WEIGHT (Unknown date)
  • BEAD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BRACELET (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BRACELET (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BRIDLE BIT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • CAULDRON (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN BLANK (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FERRULE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FLUE TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • HARNESS MOUNT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • NAIL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • NAIL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PLATE BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • ROOF TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SPINDLE WHORL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • STEELYARD WEIGHT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • TIE BAR (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • WINDOW GLASS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 260 AD to 378 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 330 AD to 335 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 364 AD to 378 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 388 AD to 402 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • CAULDRON (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS PENDANT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • JETTON (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SKIMMER (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • VESSEL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • WEIGHT (Medieval to 16th Century - 1200 AD to 1600 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1450 AD)
  • STRAP END (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1450 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUTTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • CAULDRON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • CROTAL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • HARNESS MOUNT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • JETTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • SKIMMER (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • TOKEN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • VESSEL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • TOKEN (17th Century - 1670 AD to 1670 AD)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Jul 23 2025 8:59AM

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