NHER 6100 (Monument record) - Arminghall Henge

1929. Ait photo interpretation.
Henge monument discovered from air. Two concentric ring-ditches and internal features (eight large post holes) visible as cropmarks.
See aerial photographs from the Crawford Collection (S1).
Also mentioned in publication (S2).
Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 07 June 2022.

1935. Excavation.
Excavation for Norfolk Research Committee by J. G. D. Clarke. The henge was shown to be approximately 82m in diameter, comprising two concentric horseshoe-shaped ditches with an intermediate bank and a central setting of eight wooden posts. Sherds of rusticated Beaker pottery were recovered from the primary silting of the inner ditch and charcoal from the base of one of the post-holes yielded a date of 2490 +/- 150 BC (DM-129).

Finds that were unrelated to the construction and use of this monument included Mesolithic worked flints (including microlithic cores and flake) that were recovered from a gravel surface beneath the henge bank. Prehistoric flint flakes and burnt flints of uncertain date were recovered from the fills of the ditches. The upper fills of the ditches produced sherds of Iron Age pottery, along with over 1000 Roman pottery sherds, tile fragments, iron nails and coins.

See published reports (S3) and (S4) for further details.
See also shorter published notes (S5),(S6), and (S7) and press releases (S8), (S9), (S10) and (S11).

The bulk of the finds were donated to the Norwich Castle Museum in 1936 (NWHCM : 1936.67). The Mesolithic flints were donated by J. G. D. Clarke in 1962 (NWHCM : 1962.539).

The Mesolithic worked flints are listed in (S12) as comprising 6 cores, 6 blades/flakes, 2 ?gravers [burins] and 1 miscellaneous piece. Slightly different totals are given in R. Jacobi's records (S13), who listed 9 bladelets (at least 1 retouched) and 7 blade cores.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 2 April 2014.

March 1948.
The Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society submitted a request to the Directorate of Ancient Monuments to schedule the area including Caistor St Edmund village and part of Markshall.
See newspaper article (S14).
H. Hamilton (HES), 07 June 2022.

1963. Published research.
The radiocarbon date obtained from samples taken during the 1935 excavatiions has been cited amongst others as evidnce for the need to re-assess the chronology of the Neolithic period in East Anglia.
See short published article (S15).
H. Hamilton (HES), 07 June 2022.

September 1967.
The monument was successfully safe-guarded by re-routing a new power line to avoid it.
See newspaper article (S16).
H. Hamilton (HES), 07 June 2022.

1973. Casual Find.
Flint flake found.
This has been lodged with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM: 1974.163).
Reported in journal list (S17).
Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 07 June 2022.

July 1983. Field observation.
Excavations to insert the legs of new electricity pylons close to the north side of the henge were observed. Approximately 15-20cm of topsoil was observed above a soft orange sand. No archaeological features or finds were observed.
Information from HER Notes (S18).
H. Hamilton (HES), 07 June 2022.

1996. Casual find.
Small early medieval sherds recovered from a molehill.
Information recorded in HER Notes (S18).
W.Milligan (NCM) 29 January 1997.

14 June 1996. NLA air photography.
Cropmarks of henge showing superbly. Particularly the horseshoe of pits.
Also see R. Jacobi archive (S13)
S. Massey (NLA), 8 August 2001.

1997. Casual Find.
A sherd of early medieval sandwich ware was recoverd.
Information recorded in HER Notes (S18).
H. Hamilton (HES), 07 June 2022.

2002.
Square enclosures (NHER 9794 and NHER 9589) suggested as Roman, and associated with the postulated cadastre and other sites.
See unpublished draft paper (S19).
D. Gurney (NLA), 2 April 2002.

Before 24 March 2006. Casual find.
Two prehistoric flint flakes.
One sherd each of medieval and undated pottery.
See description in file.
E. Darch (NLA), 24 April 2006.

March 2006. Geophysical survey.
An earth resistivity survey was undertaken within a 0.8 hectare area centered on Arminghall Henge and a smaller 40m by 20m area to the south as part of an undergraduate research project.
The area of J.G.D. Clarke's 1935 excavations appeared as an area of high ressisteance, which indicates that the underlying geology is closer to the surface in this region and therfore supports the suggestion that this area was cleared or leveled prior to erecting the timber uprights. However, the individual post holes and ramps were not visible and it was suggested that a more detailed survey, with 0.5m readings instead of 1.0m readings would result in the identification of additional features.
The inner ditch was clearly visible and appeared to be quite regular and of similar depth throughout.
The causeway was also visible, and the ditch terminals were strongly defined. However, the outer ditch is described as 'not especially clear' and it was not possible to determine if it was continuous. A possible break in the outer ditch aligning with the causeway of the inner ditch was noted.
A small area to the southwest of the monument was also examined in order to determine whether there may have been an avenue associated with the henge. Unfortunately results in this area were particularly inconclusive.
See unpublished report (S20) for further details.
See also published article (S21).
C. Kennett (NLA), 19 August 2010. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 07 June 2022.

June 2010. Norfolk NMP.
The Late Neolithic to Bronze Age henge or henge-like monument described above is visible as a cropmark (and perhaps a slight earthwork) on aerial photographs (S1) and (S22 - S41), centred at TG 2397 0601. As far as possible, the NMP mapping has been derived from the 1929 pre-excavation aerial photographs, rather than the cropmarks produced by the excavated features. The most significant aspect of the NMP mapping for the site is the apparent continuation of the outer ditch across the entrance through the inner ditch and horseshoe of posts. Although too close to the modern hedgeline to be absolutely certain of its archaeological nature, the cropmark can be traced on the 1996 aerial photographs to create almost a full, unbroken outer circle. This is contrary to the findings (admittedly tentative) of the recent geophysical survey of the site (S21), which postulates an entrance in the outer ditch corresponding with that in the inner, and the NMR record for the site which states that the cropmark evidence suggests three or four breaks in the outer circuit. More broadly, the NMP mapping has contributed a much more detailed picture of the prehistoric ceremonial/funerary landscape surrounding the site, raising questions as to the potential relationships between Arminghall Henge and other sites, such as the Markshall hengiform monument (NHER 9582) and the two large hengiform barrows to the northeast (NHER 9592 and NHER 52334) with which it forms a potential alignment.
As mapped by the NMP, the outer ditch is broadly circular in plan and measures up to 81m in diameter. The inner ditch is slightly oval and distinctly segmented in plan, and measures up to 41m in diameter. The horseshoe of post holes measures 14m long and 13m wide. No clear trace of the bank is visible; there is a slight possibility of a third ditch circuit in the southern quadrant of the site but this is tentative.
See published article on the results of this aerial investigation project (S42).
S. Tremlett (NMP), 30 June 2010.

29 May 2010. Stray find.
Prehistoric flint flakes and medieval pot sherd.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (HES), 22 October 2010.

July 2010. Aerial photography.
See images by Mike Page (S43) for additional cropmarks.
H. Hamilton (HES), 22 August 2013.