NHER 468 (Monument record) - Palaeolithic worked flints and possible iron working site, Valley Drive, Mousehold

January-May 1935. Stray Find.
In 1935 J. E. Sainty published an illustrated description of a Palaeolithic handaxe that had been recovered by J. H, Capon "in a shallow working for gravel on Mousehold Heath" (S1). The site is described by (S2) as a "little gravel pit about half way down Valley Drive, Mousehold". Cartographic sources suggest that this object was found within what were at the time fairly extensive gravel workings.

Although it was reported that this object had been recovered from upper gravel, it is noted in (S1) that "…the actual portion in which the implement was found, has clearly been disturbed and re-arranged by solifluxion, perhap of Little Eastern date. The implement is therefore, not to be considered as in situ in the main mass of the gravel. The handaxe itself is described as being of "Combe Capelle type", of fine quality flint, in mint condition, with its flatter face patinated white and a bluish patina and fine white lines on its opposing face. This handaxe was also subsequently noted by Sainty in (S3). It was subsequently donated to the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1938.40).

According to (S2) Capon also recovered a Palaeolithic flint flake at this site, described as a "Clacton II flake, chipped very roughly and stained dark brown". This was apparently shown to the Prehistoric Society in 1935. It appears that this object was also donated to the Norwich Castle Museum - almost certain an artefact listed as a "roughly shaped flint flake of prehistoric date found in 'Little Pit' Valley drive, Mousehold" (NWHCM : 1938.160.1). It is noted on (S2) that this collection also includes a "battered flint" from the same site. It is however clear from the museum's records that there has been some confusion regarding the objects originally assigned this accession number - only the flake is now recorded as being from Mousehold.

The handaxe from this site is one of the two from Mousehold Heath listed by Roe (S4); the other being a poorly-provenanced implement that was observed in the Great Yarmouth museum in 1935 (NHER 469). The flake listed by Roe is also presumably the one from this site. Capon's handaxe is described by Wymer on (S5) and in (S6) as a flat-butted cordate type of probable Late Ipswichian or Early Devensian date (that is, associated with Late Middle Palaeolithic Neanderthal activity). Wymer notes that this would support the original suggestion that the handaxe had been incorporated into solifluction gravel, which would best best fit into one of the very cold periods of the Devensian, possibly its maximum. This implement is also listed as a probable Middle Palaeolithic handaxe in (S7), (S8) and (S9), although it is not one of the handaxes accepted by (S8) as a true bout coupé.

The Palaeolithic material from this site is also noted in (S10) and (S11), although no additional information is given.

Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 21 July 2014.

Inf from NAR records. At this gravel pit OS record discovery of circular pit around 15ft (4.6m) in diameter containing burnt material - iron smelting.
Information apparently from R. R. Clarke's 6 inch map (1953).
Compiled by M. Leah (NAU), 4 February 1991.