NHER 65187 (Monument record) - Multi-period remains including Late Saxon pits and medieval roadside enclosure

November 2019-February 2020. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of land on route of proposed North Tuddenham to Easton A47 Improvement Works (Area F8).
This survey identified a cluster of short linear anomalies at the western end of the site. These potentially represent ditches defining three sides of an irregular enclosure immediately adjacent to Mill Lane. An additional linear anomaly to the north potentially represents an associated boundary. The alignment of this enclosure matches that of the lane and the lack of evidence for similar remains in the field to the west suggests its was probably contemporary with this route way. A medieval to post-medieval date is therefore likely.
Although various other, more extensive linear anomalies were also recorded the majority correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the Hockering tithe map of 1838 (S1). The alignments and positions of the others suggest that they were probably former elements of either the same field system or related precursor.
Several clusters of discrete anomalies recorded close to the western edge of the field are possibly of archaeological interest, potentially representing infilled pit-type feature.
The majority of the discrete anomalies recorded elsewhere on the site are though thought to be of probable geological origin.
Areas of magnetic disturbance around the margins of the site and scattered discrete dipolar anomalies were probably caused by ferrous material in the topsoil (most likely modern debris).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 10 May 2022.

July-October 2020. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of land on route of proposed North Tuddenham to Easton A47 Improvement Works (Area 10; Trenches 82-112; ENF151866; NHER 65187).
The 31 trenches excavated at this location revealed a number of linear and discrete features. Potentially the earliest of these was potentially a small pit in the north-west corner of the site that produced a small assemblage of Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age pottery. It is however recorded that several fragments of ceramic building material (of unspecified age and type) were also recovered from this feature so its date is currently somewhat uncertain.
The main phase of activity on the site appears to have occurred between the Late Saxon and medieval periods, with remains of this date concentrated in the westernmost third of the site.
Features of probable Late Saxon date included two pits containing Thetford-type ware pottery.
The trenches placed to investigate the probable enclosure detected by the preceding geophysical survey identified a series of corresponding ditches. Although the enclosure ditches themselves produced no dating evidence, a small assemblage of medieval pottery was recovered from a potentially related ditch (this corresponding with a linear geophysical anomaly extending from the north-east corner of the enclosure). A similar quantity of medieval pottery was also recovered from a nearby pit.
Features of probable post-medieval date included a number of ditches that correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the Hockering tithe map (S1). Several large infilled quarry pits were also probably post-medieval or later in date.
The remaining features produced no finds and therefore remains undated. A possible medieval to post-medieval date can however be suggested for many of the undated ditches based on their alignments.
See report (S2) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2020.131).
P. Watkins (HES), 10 May 2022. Amended 8 December 2022.