NHER 65078 (Monument record) - Roman, post-medieval and undated remains

August 2018. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site (Area 1).
This survey identified a number of fragmentary linear anomalies that although regarded as potentially associated with recent activity may nevertheless represent archaeologically-significant remains. The majority are aligned north-north-west to south-south-east, including several that potentially represent the continuation of features once visible as cropmarks on land to the south (now recorded as NHER 65077). There was however no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with a dense group of linear cropmarks that partly extends into the westernmost part of the site (as recorded under NHER 65077). It must however be noted that magnetic disturbance occurs across the entirely of the site. This has probably been caused been recent activity, particular as recent aerial imagery suggests this field was used as some form of works compound and materials storage area during the construction of the housing development to the south.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 12 June 2021.

June-July 2019. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
The 16 trenches excavated revealed a range of ditches and a small number of discrete features. The finds recovered suggest these remains were mostly associated with Roman period activity, although many of the features produced little or no dating evidence.
Ditches that could be firmly dated as Roman included several north-north-west to south-south-east and north-to-south aligned features at the eastern end of the site. These ditches produced more than two hundred sherds of Roman pottery as well as fragments of Roman brick and tile (including part of a combed box flue tile) and animal bones. Two of these Roman ditches corresponded with previously identified geophysical anomalies and potentially represented the continuation of features associated with linear cropmarks mapped to the south (a possible route way that is part of an extensive group of potentially Roman cropmarks now recorded as NHER 65077). Although a number of the various linear features identified elsewhere on the site also produced Roman pottery, the quantities were much smaller, meaning that in most cases the possibility of a later date cannot be excluded. Although many of the undated features are parallel or perpendicular to the more convincingly-dated Roman remains, these alignments are also similar to those of the extant field boundaries. The only features that can be confidently identified as post-Roman are though two ditches that correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition Six-inch map (S1), one of which produced a single fragment of post-medieval pottery and fragments of vessel or window glass (in addition to several sherds of Roman pottery).
Two parallel east-north-east to west-south-west aligned ditches at the western edge of the site corresponded with cropmarks thought to represent a double-ditched trackway of possible Roman date (also recorded under NHER 65077), but unfortunately these features produced no dating evidence. A single late post-medieval/modern brick was recovered from an east-to-west aligned linear feature immediately to the south that potentially corresponded with another of the cropmarks in this group.
Although possible pits were identified in a number of the trenches these were mostly undated, shallow features - a number of which were of potentially natural origin. The one exception was a feature at the western end of the site that produced a single Iron Age pottery sherd and seven Roman sherds. Roman pottery was also recovered from a large discrete feature interpreted as a possible infilled pond.
The Roman pottery recovered at this site is predominantly of mid Roman date (i.e. 2nd to 3rd century) and consists primarily of locally-made coarsewares, although some imported Gaulish and British fine wares are also present. Given the evidence for Roman industrial activity to the south (see NHER 28450) it is notable that one of the grey ware fabrics includes small flecks of metal-working debris. Vitrified slag deposits are also present on a number of vessels, indicating some of the pottery was being made and used in an industrial environment. Two of the samples taken from features of probable Roman date also produced material described as industrial waste and charcoal was shown to be abundant in a number of the other features. Despite this, there is currently no direct evidence to suggest industrial activities were taking place at this particular location.
Information from report uploaded to OASIS. HER copy awaited.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2019.229).
P. Watkins (HES), 14 June 2021.