NHER 60521 (Monument record) - In situ Mesolithic worked flint scatter

Two archaeological excavations undertaken to the north of Micklehaugh Farm, within an area where surface collection had identified an extensive scatter of Mesolithic and later prehistoric worked flints. See NHER 2259 (under which these excavations were previously recorded) for details of the unstratified finds recovered in the area.

February 1975. Excavation.
Trial excavation undertaken by A. Lawson (NAU), [1] and several other volunteers in O.S field 858, within the main concentration of surface finds. This work took place after the area had been subject to subsoiling on two occasions and aimed to establish whether material remained in situ and, if so, whether any stratification was preserved. The trench excavated measured 2m by 3m, which was divided into six 1m square transects. All finds from subsoil contexts were individually numbered and located. A total of 237 flints recovered including:
1 microlith, 29 flakes, 8 blade segments and 25 shatter pieces from topsoil contexts.
1 notched flake, 1 scraper, 1 retouched blade, 2 double-platform cores, 8 blades, 13 blade segments, 37 flakes, 5 shatter pieces and 7 spalls from subsoils contexts.
95 burnt flint ‘pot boilers’ were also found (32 in topsoil and 63 in subsoil).
This work demonstrated that a large quantity of material remains in situ despite plough disturbance. The worked flint assemblage was probably of earlier Mesolithic date and therefore likely to be broadly contemporary with the many tranchet axes recovered during surface collection.
For further details see published article (S1) , in which the retouched implements, cores and several blades are illustrated. The finds from this work were donated to the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1977.122).

16th June 1981. Excavation.
Small excavation by J. J. Wymer (NAU) in old O.S field 858, approximately 10m due north of earlier worked. An area 2m by 1m was excavated, with the following finds recovered:
24 flint flakes and 7 ‘pot boilers’ from topsoil contexts.
1 single-platform flint core, 35 flakes/spalls and 19 pot boilers’ from underlying subsoil contexts.
The finds from this work were donated to the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1983.108).
Although recorded as Mesolithic that lack of diagnostic pieces means that these finds cannot be conclusively associated with this phase of activity.
Information from file notes compiled by A. J. Lawson (NAU), 3 March 1982.

P. Watkins (HES), 13 October 2014.