NHER 65136 (Monument record) - Prehistoric features, probable area of medieval settlement and other, undated and post-medieval remains

February-March 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of part of large proposed development area (Area 10).
This survey identified a cluster of archaeologically-significant responses at the northern end of the site, including two pairs of adjacent, east-to-west aligned linear anomalies that potentially represent ditches defining trackways. A number of related perpendicular linear anomalies suggest they probably formed the northern and southern side of a group of enclosures. The eastern end of these appears to have been identified, but they probably extended into the land to the west. It is therefore possible that these represent an area of occupation associated with the deserted medieval settlement of Kenninghall (NHER 10106), which lay to the north-west. The possible 'plots' defined by the linear anomalies each contain multiple discrete anomalies that potentially represent pit-type features.
Other responses of potential interest include several reasonably strong east-to-west and north-to-south aligned linear anomalies in the southern half of the field that presumably represent post-medieval or earlier field boundaries.
A number of weak responses in the northernmost part of the site may also represent archaeologically-significant remains. These include a circular anomaly that may represent a ring-ditch, although it is noted that it is not hugely dissimilar from another circular anomaly to south that is thought to be a probable solution feature.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 7 July 2021.

February-June 2023. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of part of large proposed development area (Trenches 164-176 and 186-193).
A total of 20 trenches were excavated at this location, all but one in the southern half of the site, to the south of the main group of anomalies identified by the preceding survey.
The one trench placed in the northern half of the site lay at the eastern margin of the field and encountered an east-to-west aligned ditch. This feature produced a small amount medieval pottery and appears to have corresponded with one of the linear geophysical anomalies that had been thought likely to represent medieval remains.
The trenches in the southern half of the site revealed a range of features, the earliest of which was an apparently isolated pit containing more than 50 sherds of Early Neolithic pottery and a reasonably large assemblage of what were probably contemporary worked flints (including a flaked axehead fragment, a possible arrowhead blank and various retouched implements). This feature also produced small amounts of animal bone and burnt flint and a sample taken from one of its fills was found to contain charred seeds and nutshell. A small trench extension excavated around this feature revealed no further remains. Although worked flints of likely Neolithic date were recovered from a number of other features most, if not all, were probably residual.
There was also clear evidence for activity at this location during the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age period, with pottery of this date recovered from a number of features. The bulk of this assemblage was though recovered from a single pit in the south-west corner of the site. Although this had initially been identified as a potential cremation burial, a sample from its fill produced only a small amount of undiagnostic burnt bone, along with charcoal, charred nutshell, marine shells and a small fragment of possible ironworking slag. The features that produced small amounts of Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age pottery included a slightly curvilinear ditch and an adjacent post-hole and another pit. Undated but potentially prehistoric remains included a group of parallel curvi-linear features revealed in the south-west corner of the site. It is possible these were also associated with the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age phase of activity.
A small amount of Roman pottery was recovered, including single sherds recovered from two otherwise undated ditches (one aligned north-to-south and the other east-to-west).
Two north-to-south aligned ditches corresponded with geophysical anomalies and were both probably of relatively recent date, one containing post-medieval pottery and the other post-medieval roof tile fragments.
The remaining pits and ditches recorded were all of uncertain date. One of the more notable of these features was a pit with a particularly charcoal-rich fill, although a sample from this deposits appears to have produced nothing of interest.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 October 2025.