NHER 65020 (Monument record) - Medieval to post-medieval features and prehistoric finds

March 2011. Geophysical Survey. Field 11.
Geophysical survey in the northern half of this field recorded three very weak positive linear anomalies interpreted as possible ditches as well as a cluster of discrete positive anomalies in the southwest corner of the investigated area interpreted as possible pits.
There was no evidence for sub-surface remains associated with the rectangular cropmark of uncertain nature recorded in this middle of this field (NHER 11820).
See report (S1) for further information.
Previously recorded under NHER 58845.
H. Hamilton (HES), 21 May 2013. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 17 May 2021.

March 2018. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of land to be affected by proposed improvements to A11/A47 Thickthorn Junction (Area 4).
This survey of the southern half of the site identified two groups of archaeologically-significant linear anomalies and a number of potentially associated discrete anomalies.
The first group is centred at TG 1789 0527 and consists of several north-to-south and east-to-west aligned linear anomalies that appear to form three sides of a small rectilinear enclosure. These features are probably associated with a small group of similarly-aligned linear cropmarks recorded immediately to the south-west (NHER 54403), in the strip of land now occupied by a plantation belt. These include a cropmark that potentially represents the southern side of the enclosure, one that appears to continue the line of its western side and another that appears to represent a boundary running parallel to its southern side.
A number of discrete areas of magnetic enhancement both within and to the east of this possible enclosure potentially represent contemporary pit-type features.
The second group of archaeologically-significant responses lies at the southern end of the site and comprises a number of differently-aligned linear anomalies thought to represent a complex of former field boundaries. Three of these anomalies correspond with a cluster of linear cropmarks mapped at this location (also recorded under NHER 54403). A strong discrete magnetic response at the centre of this group of linear anomalies potentially indicates the presence of a kiln or an area of intense burning (although it is noted that it could also have been caused by a buried ferrous object). A second discrete area of magnetic enhancement in this part of the site is potentially another pit-like feature.
As during the earlier survey there was no evidence for sub-surface remains associated with the cropmarks that had once been thought to represent the remains of a building (NHER 11820).
Numerous parallel linear trends are the result of recent agricultural activity. Scattered discrete dipolar anomalies are likely to have been caused by ferrous material in the topsoil (most likely modern debris).
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 6 June 2021.

July-August 2020. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of land to be affected by proposed improvements to A11/A47 Thickthorn Junction (Trenches 17-40).
The 24 trenches excavated at this location revealed numerous linear and discrete features, with the main concentrations lying in the southern half of the site, where they coincided with the two clusters of anomalies identified by the preceding geophysical survey. Various ditches and discrete features were also identified in several other parts of the site, with only the north-easternmost part of the field shown to be devoid of archaeologically-significant remains. Although the majority of the excavated features produced little or no dating evidence, the finds that were recovered suggest that most were probably associated with medieval to post-medieval phases of activity.
As at other nearby sites there was some limited evidence for prehistoric activity, including a small assemblage of residual Mesolithic/Early Neolithic and Late Neolithic/Bronze Age worked flints and a Neolithic polished stone axehead. Several sherds of Late Prehistoric pottery were also recovered from an otherwise undated ditch at the northern end of the field, one of which has been identified as potentially Early Iron Age.
Three fragments of ceramic building material were tentatively identified as potentially Roman (including two from an otherwise undated ditch) but there was no other evidence for activity during this period.
The features that could be positively identified as medieval all lay in the southern half of the site and included a group of pits at the point where the geophysical survey had recorded a cluster of discrete anomalies within a possible enclosure. These pits, several of which were particularly substantial features, produced small quantities of high medieval pottery. An undated east-to-west aligned ditch to the north coincided with the anomaly that appeared to represent the northern side of an associated enclosure, but there was no evidence for a ditch associated with the linear anomaly thought to form its eastern side.
A north-to-south aligned ditch to the south-east was one of the few linear features that could be convincingly dated as medieval. This appeared to correspond with one of the various linear geophysical anomalies identified at this location and produced a reasonably large assemblage of high medieval pottery. A small amount of medieval pottery was also recovered from a perpendicular, east-to-west aligned ditch a little way to the north (which also probably corresponded with a geophysical anomaly). Although several other ditches in this part of the site also coincided with geophysical anomalies and/or previously documented cropmarks (recorded under NHER 54403) these produced no dating evidence. A number of pits in this part of the site were also mostly undated, the one exception being a shallow feature that produced a small amount of medieval pottery.
A trench excavated to the east of the main group of medieval pits revealed evidence for a subsequent, late medieval/early post-medieval phase of activity. Moderate amounts of late medieval transitional (LMT) pottery were recovered from a layer at the top of what appeared to be some kind of large hollow and the fill of a large pit cut into its western margin. These deposits also produced iron objects, brick fragments and glass of probable medieval date, along with a range of post-medieval finds, including stoneware pottery sherds, roof tiles, drawn wire pins and lace tags. Samples taken from these deposits produced a range of charred plant macrofossils, including cereal grains, legumes and seeds, along with fish bones/scales, glass fragments and ferrous flakes likely to present hammerscale produced during iron smithing. Moderate quantities of animal bone were also recovered suggesting these deposits contained waste from both domestic and light industrial activities that had presumably been taking place somewhere in the vicinity. It should be noted that none of the post-medieval objects necessarily date to the latter part of the period, so it is entirely possible that all of the finds were broadly contemporary; representing activity during the 16th century. This suggestion is supported by the recovery of a single Elizabethan silver coin from one of the deposits. The general lack of later finds (including the notable absence of any other post-medieval pottery) suggests that activity on the site had significantly reduced after this period.
One potentially post-medieval feature was a large pit or hollow that produced fragments of post-medieval roof tile and coke.
Ditches were identified in all parts of the site, including features that probably corresponded with the geophysical anomalies identified in the northern half of the site by the 2011 survey. Although most are undated it is notable that the vast majority were aligned either north-to-south or east-to-west. Given the finds recovered in the southern half of the site and the alignments of the former and extant field boundaries it is therefore likely that most were associated with medieval to post-medieval phases of activity. The Ordnance Survey First Edition Six-inch map (S3) shows several similarly-aligned lines of trees within Thickthorn Park (NHER 33732) that presumably represent the lines of former boundaries that predated its creation.
The discrete features identified elsewhere on the site included a small cluster of shallow pits and possible post-holes in the northernmost part of the site, one of which produced two iron nails.
As with the two preceding geophysical surveys there was no evidence for sub-surface remains associated with the rectinlinear group of cropmarks originally thought to represent the remains of a building (NHER 11820). It is therefore highly likely, as suggested when they were mapped in 2010, that these cropmarks were actually the result of agricultural activity on the site, rather than below ground remains.
Unstratified finds were limited to a single prehistoric worked flint.
See report (S4) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2020.109).
P. Watkins (HES), 7 June 2021. Amended 27 July 2023.

November-December 2020. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of land to be affected by proposed improvements to A11/A47 Thickthorn Junction (Area 10).
This phase of work saw the re-examination of the northern half of the field (which had originally been surveyed in 2011 – see above).
Although a number of linear anomalies were thought to be of archaeological significance it appears that the majority represent the traces of the trial trenches excavated earlier in the year.
Information from report uploaded to OASIS. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 6 June 2021.

October 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of south-east portion of site.
The only responses of potential archaeological interest are a pair of intersecting north-east to south-west and north-west to south-east aligned linear anomalies at the southern end of the area examined. The latter potentially relates to an undated ditch that had been identified by the 2020 trial trenching. This feature corresponds with one of the linear cropmarks visible on aerial photographs of the site (part of a group recorded as NHER 54403). A roughly east-to-west aligned linear anomaly to the north is likely to represent the line of former post-medieval field boundary - this corresponding with the line of trees depicted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition Six-inch map (S3). A number of other linear anomalies were most likely the result of recent agricultural activity. Scattered ferrous responses were probably caused by material on or close to the surface (most likely modern debris).
See report (S5) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 January 2024.

January 2023. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of south-east portion of site (with the area trenched partly overlapping that examined in 2020).
The 18 trenches excavated revealed only sparse remains, with the majority of the features recorded being ditches of uncertain date.
The small number of datable features included an east-to-west aligned ditch that almost certainly corresponds with the former boundary represented by the line of trees shown on the Ordnance Survey First Edition Six-inch map (S3). This feature had also been identified by the preceding geophysical survey. It produced a fragment of probable 17th-century bottle glass. Also likely to be of relatively recent date was a north-north-east to south-south-west aligned ditch to the south that contained several fragments of post-medieval brick. A large pit containing post-medieval ceramic building material and metalwork was also noted, which appears to have been the cause of one of the larger ferrous anomalies identified by the preceding geophysical survey. Although several small pits were also exposed these were all undated features of uncertain nature.
An adjacent pair of north-north-east to south-south-west and west-north to south-east aligned ditches clearly related to two of the linear cropmarks recorded at this location (NHER 54403), although unfortunately neither produced any dating evidence. Samples taken from one of these ditches and a parallel feature to the south contained charcoal fragments, along with charred cereal grains (including wheat and barley) and weed seeds. Modern seeds and other debris present in the ditches of likely post-medieval date were notably absent.
The only other feature of note was a substantial north-to-south aligned palaeochannel exposed at the western edge of the area examined. It produced a small, mixed assemblage of finds, comprising a single Neolithic flint flake, two medieval pottery sherds and fragments of post-medieval tile.
See report (S6) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 January 2024.