NHER 51817 (Monument record) - Possible Roman field system and enclosures and post medieval field boundaries, trackways or hollow ways, and plough furrows

July 2008. Geophysical Survey.
Site of proposed quarry (Area 1).
Survey detected archaeological features over most of this area.
A series of linear positive magnetic anomalies have been interpreted as soil-filled ditches. These appear to form part of a rectilinear field system aligned approximately north-south and east-west as well as possible enclosures. The linear features correspond to cropmarks previously identified within the field (see NHER 49680) and the morphology of the features indicates that they are probably of Roman date. At least two phases of land use are evident. The features appear to form parts of at least two large enclosures or fields, one of which may be subdivided, with a possible smaller enclosure towards the centre of the area. More highly magnetic readings on the east side of the survey area indicate the presence of fired material within the ditch fills. Several discrete positive magnetic anomalies in the eastern portion of the site have been interpreted as possible soil-filled features, including possible pits.
Two of the linear anomalies in the east of the survey area have a similar alignment to enclosure boundaries depicted on the 1809 enclosure map of Haddiscoe (S2) and therefore likely represent former post medieval field boundaries. Other broad anomalies in this area which have been interpreted as a possible north-south trackway or holloway share a similar alignment to the field boundaries and may also be of post medieval date.
In the west of the survey area, a series of weak parallel positive anomalies was interpreted as possible plough furrows and in the southwest diffuse anomalies may indicate a northwest-southeast trackway, although the latter may be a geological feature.
See (S1) for further details.
H. Hamilton (NLA), 12 February 2009.

September-October 2008. Systematic Fieldwalking and Metal-detecting Survey.
Site of proposed quarry (Area 1).
Seven prehistoric worked flints were recovered. A single sherd of Roman pottery, a single sherd of medieval pottery and a single sherd of post-medieval pottery were recovered. Other post-medieval finds included two copper alloy buckles and a copper alloy coin.
See report (S3) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2011.120).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 14 September 2009. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 12 May 2019.

November 2008. Trial Trenching.
Site of proposed quarry (Area 1).
Many features previously identified during the geophysical survey or by the Norfolk NMP (see NHER 49680) were encountered during trial trenching. Many of these were undated linear features and ditches, and other undated features included pits (also present as a geophysical anomaly) and a post-hole. Three datable ditches were encountered, one containing a fragment of Roman tegula, and two others containing medieval or post-medieval brick fragments, all of which had previously been recorded as cropmarks by the NMP. A pit containing sherds of 2nd-3rd century AD Nene Valley pottery was recorded. Field boundaries visible on the 1809 Enclosure Map were also encountered in some trenches.
See report (S4) and (S5) for further information.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2011.120).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 14 September 2009. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 12 May 2019.