NHER 58749 (Find Spot record) - Unprovenanced Palaeolithic worked flints, Thorpe (Thorpe St Andrew, poorly located)

Potentially Palaeolithic finds known to have been recovered at Thorpe St Andrew during the late 19th century or early 20th century but with little additional information regarding provenance. It is possible that the more dubious examples are from the Thorpe Pit (NHER 9614), where a number of what were believed to be Palaeolithic worked flints are known to have been recovered during the early 20th century.

REPORTED DISCOVERIES

Pre 1925. Stray Find.
In January 1925 "...part of a Palaeolithic hand axe from Thorpe, Norwich…" was exhibited by J. E. Sainty at a meeting of the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia (S1). The exact provenance of this object is unknown and, as noted in (S2), its present whereabouts are also unclear. It is known that Sainty recovered a number of flints at the Thorpe Pit (NHER 9614), although it appears that most, if not all, were dubious "sub-crag" artefacts.
This handaxe is listed in (S3), although this is simply a reference to (S1). It is also noted on (S4) and in (S5) and (S6).

FINDS IN MUSEUM COLLECTIONS

Norwich Castle Museum (NCM):
The NCM holds a collection of unprovenanced "Palaeolithic flint implements" from Thorpe that were donated by Sainty in 1927 (NWHCM : 1927.78.2). As with the reported discovery noted above it is possible that these objects were from the Thorpe Pit (NHER 9614). The nature of these finds is unclear at present, particularly as it appears that no subsequent researchers have identified them as genuine Palaeolithic artefacts.

British Museum.
The British Museum holds 2 flint flakes from "Thorpe" (1989,0301.1211-1212). These are amongst material that was transferred from the Geological Museum. Although the museum's current records suggest that both have been identified as genuine Palaeolithic artefacts it should be noted that one is marked as being from "Norwich Crag".

P. Watkins (HES), 9 May 2014.