NHER 64516 (Monument record) - Medieval features and multi-period finds

October 2017-January 2018. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks associated with demolition of existing bungalow and subsequent construction of replacement dwelling and detached garage.
The foundation trenches excavated for the new house revealed two features – a north-to-south aligned ditch of probable medieval date and an undated pit of potentially similar age. The ditch produced a single sherd of Late Saxon pottery, three medieval sherds (including one of late medieval date) and a single animal bone. In places its fill was notable dark and charcoal rich, suggesting it had received debris from some nearby activity. Although the pit produced no finds it also had a dark, charcoal-flecked fill, suggesting these two features were probably contemporary.

A range of unstratified finds were also recovered during this work including:
1 Neolithic/Bronze Age flint flake.
2 Roman pottery sherds (both heavily abraded).
14 medieval pottery sherds, 1 millstone fragment, 1 cauldron foot and 2 lead objects with stamped decoration.
1 medieval/post-medieval roof tile, 1 suspension ring and 1 lead pot mend.
1 post-medieval jetton, 1 token, 1 pottery sherd, 1 roof tile, 3 clay tobacco pipe fragments, 1 ?knife terminal and 1 copper alloy stud.
4 undatable waste lead fragments and 2 animal bones.
The medieval lead objects had been crudely cut from lead sheet and are of uncertain purpose. Their stamped decoration does though bear a passing resemblance to that seen on later medieval pennies and they were probably used as counters or gaming pieces. Analysis at the University of East Anglia confirmed that both are made of pure lead, rather than an alloy.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 January 2021.