NHER 5320 (Monument record) - Probable Early Neolithic occupation site and other prehistoric finds

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Summary

Various finds were found in this field by W. F. Curtis in the mid 20th century and further material was recovered during fieldwalking undertaken as part of the Fenland Project in 1984. It is likely that this was some form of Early Neolithic occupation site, with a range of worked flints of this date recovered, including three leaf-shaped arrowheads. A number of sherds of Early Neolithic plain bowl pottery have also been found. Other finds include concentrations of burnt flints ('pot boilers') and a number of later, Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age worked flints (including a barbed and tanged arrowhead).

Protected Status/Designation

None recorded

Location

Map sheet	TL68NE
Civil Parish	HOCKWOLD CUM WILTON, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

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Full Description

1965. Stray Find.
General scatter of Neolithic pottery and worked flints (c. 1). These finds were part of the Curtis Collection (No. 70) and are now held by the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1965.278 : A).
This collection was examined by F. Healy who identified the following objects (S1):
16 Early Neolithic plain bowl pottery sherds (2 rims and 14 body sherds of comparable fabrics). See illustration of rim sherd (S2) (noted as "Beaker and Rusticated" on Curtis sketch map in NCM).
1 Early Neolithic leaf-shaped arrowhead (fragmentary). See illustration (S3).
4 prehistoric scrapers; 3 end scrapers (one long) and 1 double-sided scraper.
This site is one of the findspots of Early Neolithic pottery listed in (S4).
According to (S1) the Curtis catalogue also lists two additional finds that were recovered from this field:
1 Early Neolithic leaf-shaped arrowhead (TL 6804 8779).
1 Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age barbed and tanged arrowhead (TL 6813 8780).
See (S5) for further information of the Curtis Collection.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 3 September 2013.

1984. Fenland Project fieldwalking.
Several discrete concentrations of material identified:

Site HCW 10 (c. 2; TL 6809 8785).
On NW slope of sand island. Scatter of flints including and some 'pot boilers'. Not particularly convincing as a 'site'. Max dimensions 22m NW/SE x 15m NE/SW. The worked flint assemblage included a scale-flaked knife and was predominantly of Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date, although some pieces (such as a serrated blade) were potentially Mesolithic/Early Neolithic.

Site HCW 11 (c. 3; TL 6810 8781).
On island of sandy gravel, just above peat line. Modertate scatter of 'pot boilers'. No worked flint. Max dimensions 19m E/W x 11m N/S.

Site HCW 22 (c. 4; TL 6814 8783).
On sandy island above peat-filled depression. Moderate concentration of flints with a few 'pot boilers' and a single sherd of indet. prehistoric pottery. Max dimensions 17m NW/SE x 16m NE/SW. The worked flint assemblage was predominantly of Early Neolithic date and included a leaf-shaped arrowhead and an unfinished arrowhead. At least one piece was however potentially of later, Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date.

For further details see project archive (S6) and final publication (S7). The finds are now held by the Norwich Castle Museum.
E. Rose (NAU) 20 March 1984. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 3 September 2013.

Associated Sources (12)

--- SNF15374 *Fieldwork: Fenland Survey. HCW 22. FENS.
--- SNF97838 Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
--- SNF87257 Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Neolithic. Hockwold cum Wilton.
--- SNF57722 Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
--- SNF8804 Secondary File: Secondary File.
<S1> SNF59203 Thesis: Healy, F. 1978. The Neolithic in Norfolk. pp 255, 260-261.
<S2> SNF80799 Illustration: Healy, F. Unknown. Drawing of Early Neolithic plain bowl rim sherd.. Film. 1:1.
<S3> SNF89801 Illustration: Healy, F. Unknown. Drawing of Early Neolithic leaf-shaped arrowhead.. Film. 1:1.
<S4> SNF62073 Article in Serial: Healy, F. 1984. Recent Finds of Neolithic Bowl Pottery in Norfolk. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XXXIX Pt I pp 65-82.
<S5> SNF6350 Monograph: Healy, F. 1996. The Fenland Project, Number 11: The Wissey Embayment: Evidence for pre-Iron Age Occupation. East Anglian Archaeology. No 78.
<S6> SNF58493 Archive: Fenland Folders.
<S7> SNF61554 Monograph: Silvester, R. J. 1991. The Fenland Project, Number 4: The Wissey Embayment and the Fen Causeway, Norfolk. East Anglian Archaeology. No 52.

Site and Feature Types and Periods (8)

Object Types (14)

END SCRAPER (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
POT BOILER (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
SIDE SCRAPER (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Early Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 10000 BC to 3001 BC)
ARROWHEAD (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
KNIFE (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
LEAF ARROWHEAD (Early Neolithic - 4000 BC to 3001 BC)
LEAF ARROWHEAD (Early Neolithic - 4000 BC to 3001 BC)
LEAF ARROWHEAD (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Early Neolithic - 4000 BC to 3001 BC)
POT (Early Neolithic - 4000 BC to 3001 BC)
POT (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
BARBED AND TANGED ARROWHEAD (Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age - 3000 BC to 1501 BC)
LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age - 3000 BC to 1501 BC)

Related NHER Records (1)

All Groups: NHER 19818 - Related to: Early Neolithic occupation site (Monument)

Find out more...(1)

Hockwold cum Wilton (Parish Summary)

Record last edited

May 20 2020 8:59AM