NHER 64338 (Monument record) - Potentially prehistoric ovoid ring-ditch and post-medieval field system

2006. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of large proposed development area.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 26 August 2020.

December 2015. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of large proposed development area.
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 26 August 2020.

April 2016. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development area (Field 2).
The most notable result of this survey was the identification of a horseshoe-shaped enclosure or ring-ditch in the western half of the field. This substantial feature has a diameter of more than 30m and is represented by a well-defined curvilinear anomaly with a pronounced gap on its northern side.
A number of straight linear anomalies were also identified, most, if not all of which appear to correspond with a post-medieval field system visible on 19th century cartographic sources.
These boundaries are a continuation of the field system identified in the field to the east (NHER 64339) and are depicted on the Fakenham Tithe Map of 1844. Many were not removed until the 20th century.
A number of discrete areas of magnetic enhancement were interpreted as infilled extraction pits.
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 26 August 2020.

October-November 2016. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development area (Field 2).
Three of the 21 trenches excavated were positioned in order to investigate the large enclosure or ring-ditch revealed by the geophysical survey. This was shown to be a substantial feature with a broad ‘v’-shaped profile, approximately 3m wide and almost 1m deep. Although one of the trenches was placed in the area of the possible entranceway indicated by geophysical survey there was not evidence for a break in the ditch, suggesting either that it was uninterrupted or that the gap was narrower it had appeared. Unfortunately little in the way of dating evidence was recovered from the three excavated segments, finds being limited to a small number of later prehistoric flint flakes and a scraper. A possible Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date can however be suggested for this feature based on its general shape and size. A sample taken from one of the ditch’s primary fills produced a very small assemblage of plant macrofossils comprising charcoal/charred wood fragments and a single spelt wheat glume base. The remainder of the material recovered appears to be potentially intrusive, comprising small coal fragments and other burnt residues of a kind typically associated with post-medieval and modern activity.
A small pit identified within the bounds of the large ring-ditch was also tentatively date as prehistoric as it produced small number of undiagnostic prehistoric flints. A number of fairly unremarkable pits excavated elsewhere on the site produced no dating evidence but were also felt to be of prehistoric character.
A single pottery sherd of probable 15th- or 16th-century date was the only evidence for subsequent activity on the site prior to the establishment of a field system in the later post-medieval period. Although a number of ditches associated with this field system were excavated no other finds were recovered and the features themselves were unremarkable. As in the field to the east (NHER 64339) it seems likely that this land was fairly marginal during the medieval and earlier post-medieval periods.
A large feature exposed close to the northern edge of the site corresponds with one of the discrete geophysical survey anomalies and was probably a substantial quarry pit. This and a number of other such features identified by the geophysical survey were possibly associated with the brick kiln known to have existed immediately to the south of this field during the late 19th century (NHER 43956).
See report (S4) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.357).
P. Watkins (HES), 26 August 2020.

January 2019. Stray Find. [1].
1 Roman tegula fragment (very abraded).
1 medieval/post-medieval roof tile fragment.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 August 2025.