NHER 62622 (Monument record) - Late Neolithic, ?Roman, post-medieval and undated features

April-May 2015. Trial Trenching.
Excavation of three evaluation trenches in north-east corner of field, adjacent to Heath Farm (Trenches 8-10).
No archaeologically significant features or deposits were observed and no finds were recovered.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 April 2018.

November-December 2017. Trial Trenching.
Excavation of three trenches along proposed route of new access road through southern half of site (Trenches 2-4).
Archaeologically significant remains were only encountered in a single trench, which was placed across the line of two parallel north-north-west to south-south-east aligned cropmarks thought to represent features of prehistoric or Roman date (NHER 52039). A single ditch was exposed that appears to have corresponded with the easternmost of these cropmarks but unfortunately no dating evidence was recovered. A sample taken from the fill of this ditch produced little in the way of carbonised plant remains, suggesting it was probably peripheral to any contemporary areas of domestic or agricultural activity. A similarly-aligned possible linear feature to the east also produced no finds.
An adjacent, relatively large pit-like feature contained fragments of post-medieval pottery and clay pipe stem.
A single fragment of medieval pottery was the only unstratified find recovered.
See report (S2) for further details.
Previously recorded under NHER 49759.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 February 2020. Amended 8 March 2021.

February-May 2018. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks associated with construction of new access road and associated compound area in southern half of site:
No archaeologically-significant features or deposits observed.
A number of finds were recovered from unstratified contexts, including:
1 Neolithic/Early Bronze Age flint core and 1 flint ?knife.
3 ?Bronze Age pottery sherds.
3 undatable prehistoric retouched flint flakes and 15 unmodified flakes.
1 Roman pottery sherd and 1 seal box lid.
2 medieval pottery sherds and 1 ?strap end.
1 post-medieval coin, 1 dress fastener, 2 furniture handles, 1 copper alloy ?cap and 1 copper alloy pin.

Monitoring of groundworks associated with construction of lagoon in south-western corner of site:
An undated, shallow, circular feature was recorded at this location. It had a charcoal-flecked fill and the underlying natural deposits showed evidence of in-situ burning.
A number of finds were recovered from unstratified contexts, including:
1 ?Iron Age lead coin (a much worn metal disc that could be the core of a plated coin).
1 medieval coin.
1 medieval/post-medieval copper alloy vessel fragment and 1 button.
3 post-medieval coins, 1 token, 2 mounts, 1 clog clasp, 1 watch winder, 1 copper alloy tag, 1 copper alloy tack, and 1 copper alloy ?counter.
Previously recorded under NHER 49759.

See report (S2) for further details.
Previously recorded under NHER 49759.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 February 2020. Amended 8 March 2021.

An archive comprising material from the 2017 and 2018 phases of work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM: 2018.162).
P. Watkins (HES), 3 July 2021.

November-December 2019. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of two proposed lagoon sites at western edge of site (Trenches 3-5 and Trenches 6-8) plus an area at its eastern edge (Broadland Gate Plot 8; Trenches 19-22)
The first group of three trenches at the western edge of the site trenches revealed only a single broad feature of uncertain nature that produced a small number of prehistoric worked flints and several burnt flints.
The three trenches excavated to the south revealed three ditches. One of these was a north-to-south aligned feature that produced a single sherd of Roman pottery and a Roman tile fragment. Another ditch appeared to have had more of a north-north-west to south-south-east alignment and was therefore perhaps more likely to be associated with the cropmark enclosure and possible trackway previously recorded to the east (NHER 52039). This feature was unfortunately undated, as was the third, east-to-west aligned ditch. There was no evidence for sub-surface remains associated with a single north-east to south-west cropmark that coincided with one of the trenches (part of a group recorded as NHER 52038).
The three trenches excavated at the eastern end of the site revealed two roughly north-to-south aligned ditches that were also potentially associated with the cropmark enclosures, with one possibly representing a boundary extending northwards from the north-east corner of the eastern enclosure. Unfortunately these features produced no finds other than a single burnt flint. The only other feature recorded was the remains of a modern property boundary associated with Field House, the recent demolition of which had cause a great deal of localised disturbance.
See report (S3) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2020.10).
P. Watkins (HES), 9 March 2021. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 3 July 2021.

January 2020. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site of proposed new police station in central part of field.
The sixteen trenches excavated revealed a small number of scattered ditches and discrete features, the majority of which produced no dating evidence.
The four ditches identified were all aligned roughly north-to-south and included two adjacent features that corresponded with a pair of parallel cropmarks though to represent a trackway (recorded under NHER 52039). The westernmost of the latter appeared to terminate at roughly the point suggested by the cropmark. Unfortunately, none of these features produced any dating evidence. Cropmarks thought to represent enclosure ditches to the south of the trackway were also investigated, but no associated features were recorded. The northern side of the eastern enclosure did though coincide with a band of grey-brown sand that was interpreted as a probable geological feature (and presumably could have been the truncated remains of a ditch).
Several pits of varying size were also excavated, all of which were undated.
A large, shallow feature encountered at the southern edge of the area examined was interpreted as a probable pond. It contained a very fine silty clay that had the appearance of having formed in standing water. This deposit produced fragments of post-medieval clay tobacco pipe and was overlain by a clay layer that represented the recent infilling of the feature (as it contained pieces of modern plastic fencing). Layers of redeposited clay observed beneath the topsoil in several trenches in this part of the site are also likely to represent previous attempts to consolidate depression and areas of wetter ground. In one trench this material produced a single sherd of post-medieval pottery and several clay tobacco pipe fragments.
The small number of other features investigated were all thought to be either natural or geological in origin.
See report (S4) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 8 March 2021.

May-June 2020. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development plot within Broadland Gate development (Plot 7).
A single trench excavated at the eastern edge of this field (Trench 5) revealed no archaeologically-significant features or deposits.
Unstratified finds were limited to three post-medieval metal objects.
See report (S5) for further information. The other five trenches excavated as part of this evaluation are recorded under NHER 49578 (Trenches 1-4 and 6).
P. Watkins (HES), 9 March 2021.

February-March 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development area at southern end of site (Broadland Gate Plot 9).
The 14 trenches excavated revealed a number of scattered linear and discrete features, the majority of which produced little or no dating evidence. The most notable exception was a substantial circular pit or hollow, the fills of which produced 33 sherds of probable Late Neolithic Grooved Ware pottery and a fairly large assemblage of what were probably contemporary worked flints. The nature of the debitage suggests that the flint working had been focused on the production of medium to large blades using rotated sub-cuboid cores. The small number of implements present are basic and utilitarian, being limited to end scrapers and a single horseshoe scraper. Samples taken from the fills of this pit produced assemblages that were dominated by charcoal. At least some of the small number of other charred plant macrofossils noted potentially represent culinary waste, although it is also possible that this material had been gathered for use as kindling. The lower fills of the hollow had a mottled appearance, suggesting they had potentially formed under waterlogged conditions.
Also potentially prehistoric was a pit-like feature that contained a single sherd of possible Early Bronze Age pottery. A sample from the fill of this feature produced charcoal but little else of note.
The ditches recorded included three north-north-west to south-south-east aligned features that correspond with linear cropmarks thought to represent elements of two adjacent enclosures and an associated trackway (NHER 52039). Finds were limited to a small number of worked and burnt flints. Little more was learn about the form and function of these enclosures, with no evidence that the surviving remains extended much beyond the mapped cropmarks.
The other undated features recorded included a curvi-linear feature of uncertain nature, a possible pit and a north-to-south aligned ditch.
The small assemblage of unstratified finds recovered comprises a small number of additional prehistoric worked flints, post-medieval roof tile fragments and post-medieval and undated metal objects.
See report (S6) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 December 2023.