NHER 4257 (Monument record) - Great Ellingham Roman inhumation cemetery and multi-period finds

1955. Casual Observation.
Foundations alleged in 'meadow next to police house.'
R. R. Clarke notes that burials were alleged to have been located in the field to the south, as far as the school crossroads, in patches of clay.
Ordnance Survey staff note that the burials as far as the school crossroads and down the opposite lane were alleged by a local farmer.
Police House is at TM 0199 9729.
Information from (S1) and (S18).
Amended by H. Hamilton (HES), 06 November 2013.

June 1957. Field Observation.
A total of nine human skeletons were found during road widening works opposite Great Ellingham.
The initial works consisted of a narrow trench opened to a depth of approximately 12 inches along the line of a new kerb. Remains of at least three individuals were observed within the trench and it was believed that additional remains were present on either side of the kerb, but no additional area was disturbed (S2). Further bone fragments were collected after the initial discovery, increasing the total number of individuals to nine (S3).
Later reports indicate that the remains were located on the south side of the road, at a depth of one to four feet below the ground surface, and were orientated west-east. The only find associated with the remains was a late 3rd century radiate coin (c. AD 260-270) which had been placed within the mouth of a skull. Unassociated finds recovered during monitoring included slag, Niedermendig lava, and animal bones identified as the remains of ox, rabbit, horse, sheep, and dog.
See further details see police report (S2), correspondence (S3) and (S4), and press cutting (S5). These discoveries are also noted in (S6).
H. Hamilton (HES), 06 November 2013.

December 1957-January 1958. Excavation.
Excavations by the Norfolk Research Committee.
This work revealed further burials and pottery ranging from the Roman period to the 17th century. Several pig bones were also noted, but these were believed to be relatively recent remains.
The results are this work are summarised in (S7) and (S8) See also correspondence (S9) and (S10).
The finds are held by the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1958.22 and NWHCM : 1957.241).
H. Hamilton (HES), 28 November 2013.

1958.
Early Saxon pottery reported by Ordnance Survey staff.
Information from (S11).

March 1959. Field Observation.
Further human skeletal remains were encountered at a depth of 2 feet below road level, approximately 40 yards to the west of those found in 1957 and 1958. The remains were discarded by the police.
Information from (S1).
H. Hamilton (HES), 28 November 2013.

1967. Excavation.
In 1967 a school project was undertaken that involved excavating two skeletons at approximately TM 0198 9726. A backhoe digging a ditch parallel with the road unearthed two graves, and a local teacher and pupils exposed the remains and made drawings. Coins were found in the eye sockets. The bones were removed and taken to Attleborough Secondary Modern School.
This is the same location as finds reported in 1968. However, the 1968 report refers to work by a different teacher so there may have been two interventions.
Information from (S12).
D. Gurney (HES), 18 September 2012.

1968. Casual Observation.
A skull, part of a lower jaw, and a few miscellaneous bones were found by Wayland Water Engineers while digging a trench at TM 0198 9726. The trench was located approximately 90 feet west of the hedge, in 'Mr. Maynard's Field,' and traces of bone were found at intervals. The remains appear to have been recorded by Mr. K. Chittock of Attleborough Secondary School. The following information has been retained:
'Mr. Maynards Field'. Approximately east-west (upper part disturbed by posthole. Bodies 3 feet 5 inches to 3 feet 7 inches deep, 42 inches long. Two 17th century sherds. On sand base with many flints in medium brown sandy loam. Cut into side approximately 15 inches. Fibula, two parts pelvis, two radii and ulnae, four fragments of rib. Other side of trench two feet six inches west, opposite body two, leg bones and foot and pottery sherds.
Information from (S1).
H. Hamilton (HES), 28 November 2013.

June 1975. Field Visit.
The southern portion of this site was visited by E. Rose (NLA) during construction of houses. Trenches were excavated to a depth of nine feet, but no archaeological remains were reported by the construction company and no remains were observed during the field visit.
Information from (S1) and (S19).
H. Hamilton (HES), 28 November 2013.

1976. Trial Trenching.
Excavations by the Norfolk Archaeological Unit produced only sherds.
Information from (S1) and (S19).
H. Hamilton (HES), 28 November 2013.

25 September 1978. Field Observation.
NAU staff investigated an area of building works following a report made to the Attleborough Police [1].
A human skeleton was encountered on the south side of a foundation trench for a new garage, 2m east of the southwest corner. The remains were situated diagonally (southwest to northeast) across the foundation trench and were within a shallow grave (maximum depth 65cm below the surface) located beneath thick ploughsoil (55cm deep). The remains were identified as a young male, approximately age 20. Half of the upper skeleton was collected, but the lower limbs remained in situ. The right side of the skeleton was missing, likely having been ploughed away. The body had lain on its back with one arm bent behind the pelvis. No cultural material was found to date the inhumation, but the condition of the bones and the diet of the deceased indicated by the fine condition of the teeth suggest that the remains were of some antiquity. All bones were left with the county coroner.
Information from (S1). See press cutting (S13).
H. Hamilton (HES), 28 November 2013.

2011-2012. Trial Trenching and Excavation.
Programme of archaeological work undertaken at 41 Church Street.
The initial trial trenching revealed five articulated and in-situ burials and some loose human remains. Further burials of probable Roman date were exposed during a subsequent excavation.
Full details are awaited.
The results of the initial work are summarised in (S14) and the discoveries are also noted in newspaper article (S15).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 4 November 2016.

November 2012. Norfolk NMP.
Assessment of the aerial photographs for this site (S16) revealed some possible fragmentary ditch-like cropmarks, although these were not mapped due to uncertainty over their archaeological significance, but it is worth noting their possible presence given the archaeological finds at this site.
S. Horlock (NMP), 02 November 2012.

May-September 2014.
Monitoring of groundworks associated with the Great Ellingham sewerage scheme.
A series of excavations were monitored on Chequers Lane, Attleborough Road and Church Lane. Archaeologically significant remains were limited to a small number of post-medieval features that survived at locations where construction of the modern road surfaces had resulted in only minimal truncation of the underlying deposits. Notably there was no evidence for further burials in the vicinity of the Attleborough Road/Church Lane junction. It should though be emphasised that only a small number of relatively small trenches were excavated during this work.
See report (S17) and NHERs 61941, 61944 and 61946 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 November 2016.

July-December 2015. Excavation.
Hand excavation of footings for extension and associated service trench at 18 Home Close.
This work revealed no archaeologically significant remains and no finds were recovered.
These negative results are significant given the proximity of the site to the previously investigated Roman cemetery; the lack of any evidence for burials helping to define the probable north-western extent of the cemetery.
See report (S20) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 11 November 2017.