NHER 51413 (Monument record) - Middle/ Late Saxon Pits,Middle Saxon- 11th Century Pottery, Sawn Antler Tine, Flemming Building

April 2008. Excavation.
A large Middle/Late saxon pit or hollow was identified, and extended beyond the limits of the excavation site to the east. A group of four stake-holes was excavated along the northern edge of the feature. Six sherds of a middle saxon spouted pitcher and five sherds of a similar date were excavated from the stake-holes, along with one sherd of Thetford ware. Sawn antler waste was also recovered, and the fresh condition of the material suggests it had been worked on or near the feature.
To the north of the site was a circular pit with a flat base and steep sides, which contained a layer of oyster shell, burnt debris, animal bones and pottery sherds. Two similar pits were also excavated and contained domestic refuse such as animal bones, pottery sherds and oyster shell.
A group of post-holes were discovered in the south of the site. A pair of postholes intercut, suggesting repair or replacement.
An elongated pit was excavated to the south of the site, and had a flat base with sides varying from sloping to near veritcal. The feature extended beyond the western limit of the site. The fill contained possible hearth debris, metalworking debris, oyster shell, animal bone, pottery and fired clay. A small quantity of 10th-11th century Thetford ware was recovered, and a single sherd of 11th-12th century pottery. A small circular pit cut this feature, which contained metalworking debris and an iron knife.
To the north of the site, an undated, elongated pit was discovered, the full exted of which was not present on site. A section indicated that it was a gradual-sided feature. A lead object was recovered from the fill. A section of a post- hole was also visible in the northern area of the site.
In the north of the site a deposit of well defined clay sand containing frequent mortar flecks was interpreted as a floor raft.
A human skull was revealed during the machining of redeposited soil, and the location and nature of the remains suggested that they had been reburied from elsewhere.
See assessment report (S1) for more details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S2).
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2011.382).
H. White (NLA) 4 November 2008. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 16 May 2019.