NHER 40528 (Find Spot record) - Multi-period finds, Happisburgh beach

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Summary

Between 1979 and 2025 a wide range of artefacts have been recovered on this section of Happisburgh beach including Lower Palaeolithic flint handaxes and flakes; a Late Mesolithic/Early Neolithic flint adze; a Neolithic flint axehead roughout and part-polished flint axehead; Neolithic to Bronze Age flint scrapers; Roman, medieval and post-medieval coins and various other metal objects. These metal finds include an Early Bronze Age flanged axehead; a Bronze Age sword fragment; a Roman to medieval strap-end; an Early Saxon sword pyramid mount, a medieval silver brooch fragment and lead ampulla and post-medieval dress accessories.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TG33SE
Civil Parish HAPPISBURGH, NORTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Unstratified artefacts recovered on the section of Happisburgh beach between the Happisburgh access ramp and the start of the concrete sea wall behind Doggett's Lane.

1979. Stray Find.
Found by J. J. Wymer, just north of the ramp down the cliff in area centred [1] (Context 1):
1 Palaeolithic primary flake. Very rolled.
Information from (S1) and (S2). This object was formerly part of Wymer's personal collection (W3908), which is now held by Royal Holloway College.
R. Rickett (NAU), 28 August 1990. Previously recorded as NHER 28062.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 23 July 2014 and 28 March 2019.

2 August 1982. Stray Find.
Found in slumped material at base of cliff at [2]:
Bronze Age copper alloy sword fragment. Blade fragment of leaf-shaped sword of Ewart Park type. Dark green patina, some surface pitting.
Identified by A. Lawson (NAU). See drawings (S3) and (S4). Donated to Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1982.377).
Compiled by A. Lawson (NAU), 8 October 1982. Information from (S5).
Previously recorded under NHER 18519.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 28 March 2019.

October 1982. Field Observation.
Visit by A. Lawson (NAU):
Site where Bronze Age sword found lies about 170 paces [155m] north-east of maintenance depot.
Erosion has moved the cliff face beyond the former coast road and hence original position of object was 10m south-west of road.
Compiled by A. Lawson (NAU), 8 October 1982. Information from (S5).
Previously recorded under NHER 18519.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 28 March 2019.

26 February 1986. Metal-detecting.
Found quarter mile [400m] south of lifeboat station at approximately [3], 5ft [1.5m] from cliff at depth of 6in [15.25cm]:
1 post-medieval gold coin. Guinea of George I 1716.
Coroner informed, decided coin was 'found property' to be retained by finder.
Compiled by E. B. Green (NCM), April 1986. Information from (S5).
Previously recorded as NHER 22617.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 28 March 2019.

1991. Stray Find.
1 Lower Palaeolithic flint handaxe. See drawing (S6).
Identified by P. Robins (NCM). See description in file.
Previously recorded as NHER 40775.
This handaxe was originally described as being found at approximately TG 414 289. Although NHER record 40775 was created soon after it was reported to the NCM in 2004, the information regarding this find was subsequently resupplied by P. Robins in the mistaken belief that it had not been added to the NHER. This resulted in the details regarding this find being added to nearby NHER 8342. The location of this find was revised in 2011 after discussions between the finder and R. Hoggett (HES) revealed that the findspot was actually at [4], which places it in Happisburgh parish (see finder's note (S7) and photographs in file). As it was again not recognised that this find had already been recorded as NHER 40775 a new record was created in order to document its revised location (NHER 55740) - this has now been revoked and the location of the find corrected.
This discovery was first reported in (S8). It is also listed in (S9), which records its original Lessingham provenance (and incorrectly links it to NHER 8342). The handaxe was borrowed from the finder during 2010 as a part of the Coastal Heritage Project and redrawn (S10). This illustration was published in (S11).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 9 June 2014.

Early 1990s. Stray Find.
Found on beach "...between Cart Gap and Happisburgh, shortly after where the concrete sea wall ends and roughtly in the area where the ruins of the Happisburgh Lower Lighthouse [NHER 15435] lie on the beach":
1 Late Mesolithic/Early Neolithic flint adze.
Identified by P. Robins (NCM), see description in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 4 March 2010. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 24 July 2014.

1995. Stray Find.
Found by [5] at approximately [6]:
1 Early Bronze Age copper alloy flanged axehead. See drawings (S12) and (S13).
Find spot annotated 'Eccles Beach' but in fact this is not near Eccles at all.
Compiled by W. Milligan (NCM), 28 February 1995.
Previously recorded as NHER 34500.
P. Watkins (HES), 28 March 2019.

April-May 2004. Metal-detecting.
Finds generally located along strip of beach:
1 Roman coin.
1 medieval coin and 1 lead ampulla.
1 post-medieval coin, 1 hooked tag and 1 buckle.
Coins identified by A. Marsden (NLA) and other objects by S. Ashley (NLA). See list and description in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 22 June 2004. Updated by J. Page (HES), 24 March 2014.

May-November 2004. Norfolk Rapid Coastal Zone Archaeological Survey.
Inter-tidal survey (Environmental Zone 19).
Found loose in cliff slumps at [7] (No 511):
1 prehistoric flint flake found.
Previously recorded as NHER 41585.

Found loose in cliff slumps at [8] (No 512):
1 prehistoric flint flake.
Previously recorded as NHER 41586.

Found loose in cliff slumps at [9] (No 513):
1 prehistoric flint flake.
Previously recorded as NHER 41587.

Found loose in cliff slumps at [10] (No 514):
1 prehistoric flint flake.
Previously recorded as NHER 41588.

Found in cliff slump at [11] (No 533):
1 prehistoric multi-platform flint core.
Previously recorded as NHER 41590.

Found in cliff slump at [12] (No 534):
1 prehistoric flint flake.
Previously recorded as NHER 41591.

Found in cliff slump at [13] (No 535):
1 prehistoric blade-like flint flake.
Previously recorded as NHER 41592.

Found in cliff slump at [14] (No 537):
1 prehistoric struck flint fragments.
Previously recorded as NHER 41593.

Found loose on clay platform exposed by erosion at base of the cliff at [15] (No 548):
1 prehistoric flint scraper.
Previously recorded as NHER 41595.

Found in cliff slump at [16] (No 550):
1 prehistoric flint scraper.
Previously recorded as NHER 41596.

See assessment report (S14) for further details.
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.421).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 28 March 2019.

February 2006. Metal-detecting.
Found at approximately [17]:
1 medieval gold finger ring. Late 12th- or 13th-century date.
Reported as Treasure; see report (S15) in file and relevant entry in (S16).
Also recorded on PAS database.
E. Darch (NLA), 14 August 2006. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 11 May 2020.

March 2007. Metal-detecting.
Found on beach below landslip, at approximately [18]:
1 medieval silver annular brooch fragment.

Found on beach below landslip at approximately [19]:
1 Early Saxon silver pyramid mount with garnet. See drawing (S17).
Previously recorded as NHER 51527.

Identified by E. Darch (NLA), see descriptions in file.
The silver Early Saxon pyramid mount was reported as potential Treasure (Treasure case 2008 T103), declared Treasure at inquest and subsequently acquired by Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2010.246).
E. Darch (NLA), 13 February 2008. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 28 March 2019.

January-March 2014. Stray Find.
Objects found on foreshore by [20].
Details to Follow.
E. McDonald, 10 December 2020.

April-June 2014. Stray Find.
Objects found on foreshore by [20].
Details to Follow.
E. McDonald, 10 December 2020.

April 2014. Metal-detecting. [21].
Roman to medieval strap-end.
Information from PAS import.
A. Beckham (HES), 2 March 2015.

July-September 2014. Stray Find.
Objects found on foreshore by [20].
Details to Follow.
E. McDonald, 10 December 2020.

October-December 2014. Stray Find.
Objects found on foreshore by [20].
Details to Follow.
E. McDonald, 10 December 2020.

January-March 2015. Stray Find.
Objects found on foreshore by [20].
Details to Follow.
E. McDonald, 10 December 2020.

April-June 2015. Stray Find.
Objects found on foreshore by [20].
Details to Follow.
E. McDonald, 10 December 2020.

July-September 2015. Stray Find.
Objects found on foreshore by [20].
Details to Follow.
E. McDonald, 10 December 2020.

October-December 2015. Stray Find.
Objects found on foreshore by [20].
Details to Follow.
E. McDonald, 10 December 2020.

November 2015. Stray Find. [22].
Found at [23]:
Lower Palaeolithic flint handaxe. See drawing (S18).
Information from PAS import.
E. McDonald (HES), 7 February 2017.

April-June 2016. Stray Find.
Objects found on foreshore by [20].
Details to Follow.
E. McDonald, 10 December 2020.

July-September 2016. Stray Find.
Objects found on foreshore by [20].
Details to Follow.
E. McDonald, 10 December 2020.

October-December 2016. Stray Find.
Objects found on foreshore by [20].
Details to Follow.
E. McDonald, 10 December 2020.

January-March 2017. Stray Find.
Objects found on foreshore by [20].
Details to Follow.
E. McDonald, 10 December 2020.

June 2017. Stray Find. [24].
Lower Palaeolithic cleaver handaxe of Wymer's type H, likely produced from an amoebic nodule. There are very few cleavers recovered from Norfolk, other examples include NHER 2780, NHER 4142, NHER 6052, and NHER 9663.
Information from PAS import.
E. McDonald (HES), 3 August 2018.

July 2017. Stray Find. [25].
Lower Palaeolithic flint handaxe (S19).
Information from PAS import.
E. McDonald, 1 January 2018.

January 2018-December 2019. Stray Find.
Objects found on foreshore by [26].
Details to Follow.
E. McDonald, 10 December 2020.

April 2018. Stray Find. [27].
Lower Palaeolithic retouched flint flake.
Information from PAS Import.
E. McDonald (HES), 1 June 2020.

January-May 2019. Stray Find. [43].
Found by [44] "…in situ within the Hill House formation on beach":
1 Lower Palaeolithic flint handaxe and 2 flakes.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 23 February 2025.

April 2019. Stray Find. [35].
Found by [36], "…on new ramp in sand brought up from sea defence work on beach":
1 Lower/Middle Palaeolithic flint scraper.
Information from PAS import.
Previously recorded under NHER 13560.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 March 2021.

April-June 2019. Stray Find.
Objects found on foreshore by [20].
Details to Follow.
E. McDonald, 10 December 2020.

Before May 2019. Stray Find.
Objects found on foreshore by [28].
Details to Follow.
E. McDonald, 10 December 2020.

July-September 2019. Stray Find.
Objects found on foreshore by [20].
Details to Follow.
E. McDonald, 10 December 2020.

July 2019. Stray Find. [29].
Lower Palaeolithic hard-hammer struck flint flake
Information from PAS import.
E. McDonald (HES), 1 October 2019.

Before 14 February 2020. Stray Find. [29].
2 Palaeolithic flint flakes.
Information from PAS import.
E. McDonald (HES), 3 March 2020.

Before 14 October 2020. Stray Find. [29].
Recorded as found at [30] but most likely from beach:
1 ?Middle Palaeolithic flint denticulate tool.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 24 June 2021.

October 2020. Stray Find. [31].
Found on foreshore by [32]:
1 Lower Palaeolithic flint handaxe.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 December 2020.

February 2021. Stray Find. [33].
Found on foreshore by [34]:
1 Lower Palaeolithic flint handaxe.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 20 December 2020.

September 2023. Stray Find. [37].
Found on foreshore by [38]:
1 Lower Palaeolithic flint handaxe.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 April 2024.

January 2024. Stray Find. [41].
Found on beach by [42]:
Neolithic flint axehead roughout. Its conditions suggests it had initially lain within the chalky subsoil at the top of the cliff - being deposited on the beach as a result of a relatively recent cliff fall.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 26 January 2025.

April 2024. Stray Find. [39]
Found on foreshore by [40]:
2 Lower Palaeolithic flint handaxes.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 October 2024.

April 2024. Stray Find. [29].
Beach finds by [45]:
1 Neolithic discoidal flint scraper.
1 Neolithic/Bronze Age flint scraper.
1 Bronze Age flint hollow scraper.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 September 2024 and 24 April 2025.

June 2024. Stray Find. [47].
Found by [48]:
1 Lower Palaeolithic flint handaxe.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 22 June 2025.

November 2024. Stray Find. [46].
Found by [38]:
Neolithic part-polished flint axehead.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 May 2025.

October-November 2025. Stray Find. [49].
Found on foreshore by [50], close to 'Happisburgh Site 1' (NHER 35385).
1 ?Lower Palaeolithic flint core or handaxe roughout (if not a modern attempt at flint knapping).
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 February 2026.

  • --- Photograph: I & RS. Digital finds image.
  • --- Publication: British Museum. 2010. Treasure Act Annual Report 2008. p xx.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • <S1> Publication: Wymer, J. J. 1985. Palaeolithic Sites of East Anglia. p 35.
  • <S10> Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2011. Drawing of a Palaeolithic flint handaxe from Happisburgh. Film. 1:1.
  • <S11> Publication: Trett, M. and Hoggett, R. 2011. The Book of Happisburgh.
  • <S12> Illustration: Holderness, A. 1995. Drawing of an Early Bronze Age copper alloy flanged axe from Happisburgh. Paper. 1:1.
  • <S13> Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2011. Drawing of an Early Bronze Age flanged axehead.. Film. 1:1.
  • <S14> Unpublished Contractor Report: Robertson, D., Crawley, P., Barker, A., and Whitmore, S. 2005. Norfolk Rapid Coastal Zone Archaeological Survey. Assessment Report and Updated Project Design. Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 1045.
  • <S15> Unpublished Document: McDonald, C.. 2006. Happisburgh, Norfolk: A medieval gold finger ring.
  • <S16> Unpublished Document: Department for Culture, Media and Sport and British Museum. 2008. Treasure Annual Report 2005/6. p 121; No 442.
  • <S17> Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2008. Drawing of an Early Saxon silver pyramid mount. Film. 2:1.
  • <S18> Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2016. Drawing of a Lower Palaeolithic handaxe. Film. 1:1.
  • <S19> Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2017. Drawing of a Lower Palaeolithic handaxe. Find Illustration. Film. 1:1.
  • <S2> Unpublished Document: Wymer, J. J. Journal. No 7. p 30.
  • <S3> Illustration: [Unknown]. 1982. Drawing of a Bronze Age copper alloy sword fragment. Paper. 1:1.
  • <S4> Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2011. Drawing of a Bronze Age copper alloy sword fragment. Film. 1:2.
  • <S5> Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. NHERs 18519 and 22617.
  • <S6> Illustration: Robins, P. 2004. Drawing of a Lower Palaeolithic flint handaxe from Happisburgh. Paper. 1:1.
  • <S7> Documentary Source: C. Lee. 2011. Finder's note.
  • <S8> Article in Serial: Gurney, D. (ed.). 2005. Archaeological Finds in Norfolk in 2004. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLIV Pt IV pp 736-750. p 738.
  • <S9> Article in Serial: Robins, P., Wymer, J. J. and Parfitt, S. 2008. Handaxe Finds on the Norfolk Beaches. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLV Pt III pp 412-415.
  • HANDAXE (Unknown to Lower Palaeolithic - 6000000 BC to 250000 BC)
  • CORE (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • CORE / ROUGHOUT (Lower Palaeolithic - 1000000 BC? to 250001 BC?)
  • DEBITAGE (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FLAKE (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic - 1000000 BC to 40001 BC)
  • FLAKE (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FLAKE (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FLAKE (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FLAKE (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FLAKE (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FLAKE (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • HANDAXE (Lower Palaeolithic - 1000000 BC to 150001 BC)
  • SCRAPER (TOOL) (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • SCRAPER (TOOL) (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FLAKE (Lower Palaeolithic to Upper Palaeolithic - 800000 BC to 10001 BC)
  • FLAKE (Lower Palaeolithic to Upper Palaeolithic - 800000 BC to 10001 BC)
  • CLEAVER (Lower Palaeolithic - 600000 BC to 150001 BC)
  • FLAKE (Lower Palaeolithic - 600000 BC to 150001 BC)
  • FLAKE (Lower Palaeolithic - 600000 BC to 150001 BC)
  • FLAKE (Lower Palaeolithic - 600000 BC to 150001 BC)
  • HANDAXE (Lower Palaeolithic - 600000 BC to 150001 BC)
  • HANDAXE (Lower Palaeolithic - 600000 BC to 150001 BC)
  • HANDAXE (Lower Palaeolithic - 600000 BC to 150001 BC)
  • HANDAXE (Lower Palaeolithic - 600000 BC to 250000 BC)
  • HANDAXE (Lower Palaeolithic - 600000 BC to 250000 BC)
  • HANDAXE (Lower Palaeolithic - 600000 BC to 250000 BC)
  • HANDAXE (Lower Palaeolithic - 600000 BC to 250001 BC)
  • HANDAXE (Lower Palaeolithic - 600000 BC to 450000 BC)
  • RETOUCHED FLAKE (Lower Palaeolithic - 600000 BC to 150001 BC)
  • SCRAPER (TOOL) (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic - 600000 BC to 40001 BC)
  • DENTICULATE (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic - 300000 BC to 50001 BC)
  • ADZE (Late Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 7000 BC to 3001 BC)
  • AXEHEAD ROUGHOUT (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • POLISHED AXEHEAD (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • SCRAPER (TOOL) (Early Neolithic to Beaker - 4000 BC to 2001 BC)
  • SCRAPER (TOOL) (Early Neolithic to Middle Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 1001 BC)
  • HOLLOW SCRAPER (Late Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 3000 BC to 801 BC)
  • FLANGED AXEHEAD (Early Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 1501 BC)
  • SWORD (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • STRAP END (Roman to Medieval - 43 AD? to 1500 AD?)
  • Pyramid Mount (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • AMPULLA (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • ANNULAR BROOCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Medieval - 1151 AD to 1300 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • HOOKED TAG (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (18th Century - 1716 AD to 1716 AD)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Mar 2 2026 4:33AM

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