NHER 58789 (Find Spot record) - Three Palaeolithic handaxes

Three Palaeolithic handaxes found within the Blackwater stream near Woodcock Hall. These finds were previously recorded under NHER 4697.

1972. Stray Find.
Found 3' [0.9m] below surface in east bank of Blackwater in Church Meadow (Little Cressingham):
1 Middle Palaeolithic flint handaxe.
Initially identified T. Clough (NCM) as a Neolithic cleaver - see original drawing (S1). Subsequently identified as a Palaeolithic handaxe and redrawn by A. J. Lawson in 1975 (S2). This object is also illustrated in (S3), where it is identified as a type associated with Mousterian-like industries and dated to the early Devensian glacial stage. This object (or possibly the 1978 find, see below) is currently on loan to the NCM (NWHCM : L1985.2.13). See notes in file for NHER 4697 (Context 9).
Also noted on (S5), which has several sketches of the obect and its context.
One of the implements accepted as a 'true' Middle Palaeolithic bout coupé handaxe in (S7) and also listed as such in (S8).

January 1976. Field Observation.
Examination of A. Lawson of site where the mint condition handaxe had been found in 1972.
See short report (S11) for details of exposed stratigraphy.

October 1976. Excavation.
Investigation of the location where the handaxe was found in 1972. An 8m section of the south-east bank of the stream was cut back in order to establish the stratigraphic position of the find. This work suggested that the handaxe had come from the base of a sandy, poorly graded, shattered, obliquely bedded flint gravel. A probably human-struck flake in fresh condition was recovered from an apparently more humic or manganese stained silty layer at the base of this gravel. Both deposits were thought to lie in an extinct channel. Pollen samples taken from the lower deposit suggested a relatively open environment with absence of interglacial-type tree vegetation. It was however difficult to say whether the pollen were in a position of primary sedimentation or derived. It was not possible to suggest a date for the assemblage, although it would be consistent with both an interstadial and the opening/closing periods of an interglacial. The stratigraphic evidence is consisent with the early Devensian date that was suggested for the handaxe on typological grounds.
For further details see published article (S3), unpublished report (S12) and notes in file.
The flake was donated to the NCM (NWHCM : 1999.315).

June 1978. Stray Find.
Found 20m south-east of north boundary of Church Meadow on south-east bank of Blackwater (Saham Toney).
1 Middle Palaeolithic flint handaxe.
Found on spread material from bank, probably originally from fine yellow cross-bedded fluvatile gravel cutting into underlying blue clay, as was the case with the 1972 find (S3). This handaxe is illustrated in (S3), which notes that this find is so similar to the 1972 discovery that it must belong to the same industry. See notes in file for NHER 4697 (Context 10).
Noted on (S5), which has a small sketch of this handaxe.
Also accepted as a 'true' Middle Palaeolithic bout coupé handaxe in (S7) and listed as such in (S8).

1981. Stray Find.
Found in hole in bank at low water, about 4' [1.2m] below ground surface on north-west side of river:
1 Palaeolithic pointed handaxe.
See drawing in file (S4) and notes in file for NHER 4697.
This object is described on (S5) and in (S6). It is noted that the slightly rolled and stained condition of this object is in contrast with that of the two earlier discoveries.

These finds are also listed in (S9) and (S10), although no additional information is provided.

P. Watkins (HES), 26 April 2013. Amended 12 November 2019.