NHER 49749 (Monument record) - Evidence for ?Late Saxon to medieval iron and charcoal production and post-medieval ditches

2004-2005. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Road.
See reports (S1) and (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 28 July 2015.

March-June 2009. Geophysical Survey
Magnetometer survey on proposed line of the Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Site R1). One of three adjacent areas investigated due to their probable proximity to the deserted medieval settlement of Little Rackheath. In this field the route of the road also crosses a number of linear cropmark features that appear to form part of an undated field system (NHER 50744).
Only a small number of the anomalies detected were likely to be of archaeological significance. These include three positive linear anomalies in the southernmost part of the survey area, two of which appear to coincide with previously identified cropmarks. It is possible that a weak circular positive anomaly (associated with a corresponding negative anomaly) identified at the east edge of the survey area may represent an archaeologically-significant feature. Other weak linear positive and dipolar anomalies identified are likely to indicate the position of service pipes and a land drain. Small discrete dipolar anomalies detected across the survey area were almost certainly caused by fired or ferrous debris in the topsoil.
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 August 2015.

April 2012-April 2013. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey on proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Block 222).
Examination of strip along northern edge of area surveyed in 2009.
This survey revealed little clear evidence for sub-surface archaeological remains. Although a range of anomalies were detected these were thought to be of predominantly agricultural or geological origin. A broad strip of magnetic disturbance corresponds with the line of a modern track.
See report (S4) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 5 August 2015.

April-September 2015. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed line of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Field R1).
This work identified only sparse, scattered remains, with archaeologically-significant features present in just 10 of the 30 trenches excavated. By far the most interesting feature was a probable iron smelting furnace identified towards the southern end of the site, which comprised a circular pit with an adjacent shallow feature that probably functioned as a flue. These contained large quantities of vitrified clay lining and tap slag. Unfortunately no dating evidence was recovered from the furnace, although evidence for iron smelting uncovered at sites to the west appeared to be associated primarily with Late Saxon to medieval phases of activity (see NHERs 49747 and 49748). Finds of this date were though limited to a single medieval pottery sherd and a medieval tile; both of which were recovered from features that also produced later finds.
An undated pit with charcoal-rich fills was potentially also associated with industrial activity, being similar to features elsewhere that have been seen as probably related to charcoal production. A sample taken from the fill of this feature produced charcoal and small amounts of hammerscale that was probably derived from iron smithing. Microslag was also found in a sample taken from a feature at the northern end of the site, providing further evidence for widespread metalworking activity in the vicinity of this location.
The remaining features were of limited interest, consisting of scattered ditches and a number of probable quarry pits. The ditches included a north-east to south-west aligned feature at the southern end of the site that corresponded with one of the anomalies identified by the 2009 geophysical survey. A post-medieval clay tobacco pipe bowl was found in this ditch and additional post-medieval finds were recovered from a perpendicular ditch in a trench to the east. Two ditches identified close to the northern edge of the site also produced post-medieval and modern finds. All of the other ditches were undated, including one at the southern end of the site that coincided with a previously identified cropmark (NHER 50744).
The probable quarry pits produced several modern finds and are all thought to have been of relatively recent date.
See report (S5) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 25 February 2021.

January-September 2016. Strip Map and Sample Excavation.
Excavation of site on route of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Area 11).
This final phase of work saw the excavation of an area at the southern end of the site, centred on the furnace identified by the preceding trial trenching. This revealed a number of scattered discrete features and several ditches.
The furnace itself was reidentified and fully excavated but no further features of this type were present - suggesting that iron smelting had not necessarily been a sustained activity at this location. This is also indicated by the fact that no other significant concentration of smelting slag were identified.
The various other discrete features included ten pits identified as probably associated with charcoal production. All had lenses of charcoal of varying thickness at these bases and in many cases the underlying geological depositing displayed signs of in situ burning. None produced any dating evidence although, again, a broad Late Saxon to medieval date can be suggested based on the results of excavations to the east (see NHERs 49747 and 49748). Although no medieval finds were found during this phase of work several sherds of Late Saxon pottery were recovered from one of a pair of shallow, fragmentary gullies, demonstrating that the site had also seen at least some degree of activity during this period.
Six ditches were identified, four of which formed pairs of adjoining features likely to represent two distinct systems of land division - both of which were probably post-medieval in date. An east-to-west aligned ditch previously identified as a cropmark (NHER 50744) and seen during the earlier evaluation produced a fragment of post-medieval glass and appeared to be contemporary with a previously unidentified north-north-west to south-south-east aligned ditch. To the south a north-east to south-west aligned ditch that corresponded with a geophysical anomaly was shown to be contemporary with a west-north-west to east-south-east aligned ditch that had also been picked up by the initial 2009 survey. Both produced sherds of post-medieval pottery. Although metal-working debris was recovered from two of these post-medieval ditches the quantities were quite small.
A fifth, north-north-east to south-south-west ditch that appears to have corresponded with both a geophysical survey and one of the cropmarks was regarded as a later, modern feature; as was a north-north-west to south-south-east aligned feature at the edge of the site.
Unstratified finds recovered included a small number of post-medieval copper alloy objects and a lead weight that was probably of a similar date.
Information from draft assessment report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 26 February 2021.