NHER 63455 (Monument record) - Undated possible ditches and pits

March 2015. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of proposed development site.
This study concluded that the site was likely to have lain some distance from the known medieval and post-medieval settlement foci. The evidence for prehistoric activity in the area is though noted, as is the range of cropmarks recorded in the area.
No features or archaeological or historical interest were observed during a brief site visit.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 April 2021.

January 2019. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site.
This survey identified no anomalies of obvious archaeological significance. There was evidence for modern ploughing in the data and other anomalies were likely to be the result of either variations in the underlying geology or modern ferrous debris.
This survey suggests that linear cropmarks recorded opposite the entrance to Vera Road (NHER 51935) were probably of natural origin, their position, form and orientation being similar to a series of broad anomalies thought to represent variations in the underlying geology. It was noted at the time these cropmarks were mapped that they were difficult to define and therefore potentially associated with geological features rather than archaeological remains.
There was no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with the undated earthwork 'entrenchment' marked on a late 16th-century map of Mousehold Heath (NHER 9688), although it should be noted that cropmark evidence now suggests that this feature may actually have lain to the south of this field (potentially corresponding with an extensive linear cropmark recorded as NHER 51933).
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 16 June 2019.

April 2019. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
The 24 trenches excavated revealed only a small number of scattered ditches and possible pits, the majority of which produced nothing in the way of dating evidence.
The ditches formed no coherent pattern, displaying a variety of alignments and each one observed in only a single trench. All that can be said is that a ditch parallel to Green Lane East and another perpendicular feature were potentially medieval to post-medieval in date. Neither corresponds with anything depicted on the available 19th and 20th century maps.
The scattered possible pits were all unremarkable features of uncertain origin. At least two of the discrete features investigated were regarded as being of likely natural origin.
A single prehistoric flint flake found in one of the ditches was the only find recovered during this work.
There was again no evidence for sub-surface remains associated the cropmarks recorded at the eastern end of the site (NHER 51935), which must now be regarded as of non-archaeological origin. This work has also provided reasonably conclusive evidence that the Mousehold ‘entrenchment’ (NHER 9688) did not pass through this land.
See report (S3) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2019.185)
P. Watkins (HES), 1 April 2021.