NHER 41735 (Monument record) - Possible Early Saxon inhumation

21 May 2005. Stray Find.
Found when excavating for new garden steps:
Human skull with jawbone, in fragments. Report of a dog skull and ribs (alone) found nearby about a year before which 'looked more recent'.

23 May 2005. Field Observation
Site examined with [1] Norfolk Police representatives.
The skull is extremely friable, much penetrated by roots, and with worn teeth. Adjacent section cleaned and revealed 450mm topsoil with 19th/20th century finds above yellow sand; skull found 1 metre down in this. Sand contains many black root holes, very large quantity of flint pebbles, and some tiny recent brick chips probably brought down by the roots. In area where skull was reportedly found, and at same depth a number of broken sherds were found; not one pot crushed in situ but arranged haphazardly in one discrete area, However, identified as thirty-four sherds from one Early Saxon vessel. No trace of grave cut or pit but after drying, A. Rogerson (NLA) noted difference of colouration in attached sand suggesting former contents. One tiny animal tooth found in same area.
Immediately to the south, in section, a single sherd was found in the sand 100mm below the base of topsoil, again with no trace of any surrounding disturbance. Identified as Early Saxon body sherd but quite different from other sherds.
Identifications by A. Rogerson (NLA).
See also (S2).
Reports on pottery in file.

26 May 2005. Excavation.
Further digging by owner at same depth revealed, 800mm east of skull position, further bones in a clear grave cut 560-600mm across, visible as bright orange gravely sand amongst the yellow sand.
Two parallel leg bones approx 400mm in length aligned east-west, second pair of ?lower leg bones at an acute angle to southeast; overall length 1.40m. No trace of any other bones except some spalls. With lower leg bones was a small piece of glass, identified as Roman, corner of square bottle; with upper leg bones another sherd, from same vessel as those by the skull. One bone was also found by the owner in area of the alleged dog skeleton, but identified as human long bone.
Identifications by A. Rogerson (NLA).
Pottery and glass reports in file.
E. Rose (NLA), 31 May 2005.

(S1) in file, describing bones as skeleton of a male aged 35-50. The single bone from the site of the 'dog skeleton' was a human humerus thus suggesting more than one inhumation on site.
E. Rose (NLA), 2 August 2005.