NHER 60062 (Monument record) - Undated enclosure, ditches and pits and multi-period finds

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Summary

This area was investigated prior to and during the construction of the Aylsham Bypass in 1979. An initial fieldwalking and metal-detector survey recovered prehistoric worked flints, medieval to post-medieval pottery sherds, a Roman brooch and a fragment of copper alloy metal working debris. Rescue excavation following mechanical topsoil stripping exposed several ditches relating to a cropmark enclosure that had previously been identified from an aerial photograph (NHER 12772). Unfortunately no clear dating evidence was recovered. Several pits were also excavated, a small number of which produced Iron Age pottery. Unstratified finds recovered included a Palaeolithic flint Levallois flake.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TG22NW
Civil Parish AYLSHAM, BROADLAND, NORFOLK

Map

1979. Fieldwalking and metal-detecting.
Surface survey along line of Aylsham Bypass by member of the East Norfolk Metal-detecting Society (ENMD) and [1].
Finds recovered between [2] and [3] included:
1 undatable prehistoric flint flake.
3 medieval pottery sherds (unglazed).
1 medieval/post-medieval pottery sherd (LMT).
10 post-medieval pottery sherds.

Finds recovered between [3] and [4] included:
11 'pot boilers'.
2 undatable prehistoric flint scrapers.
1 Roman brooch. Found within the bounds of a cropmark sub-rectangular enclosure previously identified from an aerial photograph (NHER 12772).
1 medieval/post-medieval pottery sherd (LMT).
8 post-medieval pottery sherds.
1 undatable fragment of "bronze cake".

See record cards in file.
Previously recorded under NHER 12772.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 21 May 2014.

1979. Excavation.
Rescue excavations following mechanical stripping of topsoil along route of Aylsham Bypass.
This work recorded a series of ditches in the vicinity of a cropmark sub-rectangular enclosure that had previously been identified from an aerial photograph (NHER 12772). Five ditches were exposed at the south corner of the enclosure and two at its north corner. It was not clear which of these ditches represented the enclosure ditch seen on the aerial photograph. Find were limited to an undatable pottery sherd and two worked flints. Two small pits were identified within the enclosure, both of which were also undatable, containing only charcoal, 'pot boilers' and a single struck flint. Environmental samples were taken from both of these pits and one of the ditch sections. A number of other pits were recorded in the vicinity of the enclosure. Most were undated, although it appears that a small number produced Iron Age pottery.

Unstratified finds of note include a potentially Middle Palaeolithic flint Levallois flake, found on the stripped surface just north of the enclosure.

See draft report (S1) for further details (in Secondary File for NHER 14940), including a sketch of the Levallois flake. This object is also described and sketched on (S2) and noted in (S3).
See also report on environmental sampling (S4) and excavation notes in file.

Previously recorded under NHER 12772.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 May 2014.

  • --- Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. NHER 12772.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • <S1> Unpublished Document: Gregory, T.. Prehistoric and Romano-British Occupation on the Aylsham Bypass.
  • <S2> Record Card: Wymer, J. J. Wymer Index Card - Palaeolithic. Aylsham (bypass).
  • <S3> Monograph: Roe, D. A. 1968. A Gazetteer of British Lower and Middle Palaeolithic Sites. CBA Research Report. No 8. p 32.
  • <S4> Unpublished Contractor Report: Murphy, P. 1979. Prehistoric pits and ditches; Alysham Norfolk. Ancient Monuments Laboratory. 2951.
  • FLAKE (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • POT BOILER (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • POT BOILER (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • SCRAPER (TOOL) (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • LEVALLOIS FLAKE (Middle Palaeolithic - 150000 BC? to 40001 BC)
  • POT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Undated)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Jul 21 2018 11:25PM

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