NHER 6226 (Find Spot record) - Unprovenanced Mesolithic, Neolithic and undated finds (Kelling, poorly located)

Various finds known to have been found in Kelling from the late 19th century onwards, but with little additional information regarding provenance.

FINDS IN THE NORWICH CASTLE MUSEUM

The NCM record card detailing J. E. Sainty's Mesolithic site on Kelling Heath (NHER 6246) includes the W. G. Clarke Collection (NWHCM : 1926.32) on a list on NCM collections that may hold material from this site (S1). It should be noted that although Clarke's collection is sub-divided into the finds that were recovered at each of his 'sites', there are no finds recorded as being from Kelling. It is however known that Clarke did indeed recover flints at Kelling, as he listed the parish as being one of the locations that he had found Neolithic flints of "Boulder Clay Type" prior to 1907 (S2) (it should be noted that the term Mesolithic was not in use when this article was written).

The NCM also holds a collection of worked flints from Kelling and Runton that was donated by H. H. Halls in 1933 (NWHCM : 1933.37). One is recorded as a Neolithic "saw". Although the other flints are listed as undated this collection is another that is listed in the records for NHER 6246 as potentially containing material from or near Sainty's Mesolithic site on Kelling Heath (S1).

The NCM's F. H. Barclay Collection includes at least one object from Kelling (NWHCM : 1935.57). See letters in file Barclay received from R. Smith (British Museum) and J. E. Sainty regarding a possible axehead that he had found in Kelling (S3). This collection is also listed in the records for NHER 6246 as potentially containing material from this site. The axehead in question is marked "near 4 cross ways" and is accompanied by notes suggesting it was identified by R. Jacobi as being most likely of Neolithic date.

The NCM also hold a Neolithic flint scraper from Kelling that was received from the London Institute of Archaeology (now UCL) in 1974 (NWHCM : 1974.558.1).
Information from (S4).
Previously recorded as NHER 11247.

In 1999 the NCM retrospectively accessioned "Mesolithic worked flint" from Kelling that they had received from [1] (NWHCM : 1999.322.7). The collection includes 1 microlith (obliquely blunted point), 1 retouched blade, 1 serrated blade, 1 blade core, 20 blades and 4 flakes.

REPORTED DISCOVERIES

Unknown date.
"Near Kelling in urn of blue earth a bronze stamp with interlaced triangles". Sketched in (S5).
Information from (S6) (a copy of an earlier NCM record card, the present location of which is unknown). The stamp may be a seal matrix.
Previously recorded as NHER 6231

Pre 2006 Stray Find.
In 2006 a collection of 12 flint axeheads was brought in for identification. These had been purchased by [2] from [3] and were all apparently from Kelling, although only one is marked as such. This collection comprised:
2 Mesolithic flint adzes.
2 Neolithic part-polished flint axeheads, 7 flaked axeheads and 1 adze.
It was noted that it is perfectly likely that all were indeed from Kelling, which seems to have been the source of the pale grey grainy flint of which most of the collection is made. Nothing appears to be known about when or where these objects were recovered.
Identified by P. Robins (NCM), see descriptions and notes in file.
Previously recorded as NHER 49967.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 8 December 2006. P. Watkins (HES), 3 August 2014.