NHER 58138 (Monument record) - Post-medieval to modern and undated remains

November 2011. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of excavation of eight small geotechnical test pits.
No archaeologically significant features or deposits were noted. The surface of the natural geology was encountered in each of the test pits.
No finds were recovered.
See report (S1) for details.
E. Ford (HES) 12 October 2012.

January 2012. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potential archaeological implications of proposed extension to Welcome Pit quarry.
This study suggests that the site lies lay close to the edge (or on) Belton Common during the medieval and post-medieval periods, prior to this common land being enclosed between the late 18th century and early 19th century.
See report (S2) for details.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 July 2023.

March 2016. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site of proposed extension to Welcome Pit quarry.
Although the 22 trenches excavated revealed a number of linear and discrete features the majority were of limited archaeological significance.
Two large pits revealed at the eastern end of the site were probably infilled extraction pits. Finds were limited to a small number of prehistoric worked flints of probable Mesolithic or Early Neolithic date, which were almost certainly residual. It is likely that these pits were post-medieval. Two large features were also exposed at the western end of the site. One was clearly a modern rubbish pit and the other a possible pond, the upper fill of which also contained modern material.
Although a number of scattered smaller discrete features were also investigated the majority proved to be of likely natural origin.
Three ditches were recorded, none of which produced any dating evidence. A roughly north-to-south aligned feature may though correspond with a former field boundary depicted on the Burgh Castle tithe map (S3).
There was no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with several cropmarks visible on aerial photographs of this site (part of an extensive group recorded as NHER 45230, which are thought to represent remains of predominantly late prehistoric or Roman date).
Unstratified finds were limited to several additional worked flints, an abraded fragment of Roman tile and a small assemblage of post-medieval medieval objects, including a coin, buttons, a possible mount and a lead musket ball.
See report (S4) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.335).
P. Watkins (HES), 21 July 2023.