NHER 57922 (Monument record) - Roman, medieval and undated remains

2010. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of two proposed quarry extension areas.
This survey identified a dense cluster of linear anomalies close to the western edge of the western field, at TG 2127 0221. These east-to-west and north-to-south aligned anomalies appear to represent a group of enclosures and are potentially related to various more discrete responses recorded in this part of the site.
Also of potential archaeological interest are a group of linear and discrete anomalies recorded in the south-west corner of the western field and groups of discrete anomalies identified in the northernmost part of the eastern field.
Although elements of three cropmark groups are mapped in the western field (NHERs 9750, 52069 and 52071) these is little correspondence between this evidence and the results of the geophysical survey. No cropmarks have been recorded at the location of the main cluster of geophysical anomalies and only one of those mapped elsewhere in this field coincides with a potentially related geophysical anomaly (a north-to-south aligned linear cropmark in the south-west corner of the western field that is part of the small group recorded as NHER 9750).
Report awaited (details from report on 2011 trial trenching).
P. Watkins (HES), 23 January 2023.

August-October 2011. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of two proposed aggregate extraction areas (Fields 3 and 4; Trenches 33-58).
The 26 trenches excavated in these two fields revealed a range of linear and discrete features. These included a particular concentration of features in the westernmost part of the western field (Field 3), in the area where the preceding geophysical survey had identified a group of probable enclosures and other potentially associated remains. Several pits and a number of the ditches recorded in this part of the site produced small quantities of Roman pottery, including several possible early Roman, transitional sherds. The situation is though complicated by the fact that two east-to-west aligned ditches and one north-to-south aligned ditch at this location were of probable medieval date, with the later clearly corresponding with one of the main geophysical anomalies. These features were potentially associated with activity during the earlier part of the medieval period, the pottery recovered being predominantly of Saxo-Norman and early medieval date.
Other notable features included a group of three north-north-east to south-south-west aligned ditches in the south-west corner of the site. Two of these features corresponded with previously recorded cropmarks that are part of a group that potentially relates to the site of the Humbleyard Hundred moot (NHER 9750). The third ditch lay to the east and coincided with a boundary depicted on the Swardeston tithe map of 1847 (S1), which appears to have enclosed the former moot site. Unfortunately none of these ditches produced any dating evidence.
Various other ditches, pits and possible post-holes were identified across the remainder of the two fields, with several notable concentrations present in central part of the site. Dating evidence was generally very sparce, although a number of features did produced small quantities of Roman pottery. No post-Roman material was recovered away from the main group of features and evidence for pre-Roman activity was largely limited to an irregular pit at the eastern end of the site that contained two handmade pottery sherds of Late Bronze Age/Iron Age date. It is also notable that many of the ditches scattered across the two fields were aligned north-west to south-east or north-east to south-west – i.e. orientated very differently to both the medieval ditches and more recent former and extant field boundaries.
See report (S2) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S3).
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2011.554).
The results of work in Field 5 to the south are now recorded separately under NHER 66663. See NHERs 9749, 37650 and 66386 for results of work in Fields 1 and 2.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 25 January 2023.

May 2018. Desk-based Assessment.
Environmental Impact Assessment of the potential impacts of the proposed Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm on the historic environment. This study incorporated the results of an initial walkover survey and the first phases of geophysical survey.
See relevant chapter of Environmental Statement and associated appendices for further detail (S4).
P. Watkins (HES), 26 January 2023.

February-June 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable.
This work saw the excavation of seven trenches in the northern half of the eastern field (P3TT35; Trenches 1304-1310).
An undated east-to-west aligned ditch was the only feature recorded.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 26 January 2023.