NHER 65189 (Monument record) - Undated and post-medieval ditches and undated possible pit

November 2019-February 2020. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of land on route of proposed North Tuddenham to Easton A47 Improvement Works (Area F12).
This survey identified a number of linear anomalies, the majority of which are north-north-east to south-south-west aligned and likely to represent ditches associated with former field boundaries. The most notable exceptions were conjoining north-north-east to south-south-west and north-west to south-east aligned features that possibly represent the western and northern sides of a small enclosure. The more extensive north-north-east to south-south-west aligned linear anomalies include a notably sinuous feature, the line of one of which appears to be have been continued to the north (on the opposite side of the A47) by a curving former field boundary depicted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition Six-inch map (S1). It is likely that this, and a number of other curving field boundaries shown on this map (some of which are still extant), represented the surviving elements of an earlier, medieval or early post-medieval field system. The final two linear anomalies are much straighter features that correspond with former boundaries shown on (S2).
The only other anomaly of note is a large discrete area of magnetic disturbance in the central part of the site that potentially represents a former quarry pit.
A number of other anomalies were thought to be of probable geological origin, including a broad, irregular linear response in the south-east corner of the site.
Areas of magnetic disturbance around the margins of the field 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), 25 July 2021.

July-October 2020. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of land on route of proposed North Tuddenham to Easton A47 Improvement Works (Area 15; Trenches 167-175).
The nine trenches excavated at this location revealed a number of linear features and a single possible pit.
Two trenches coincided with the northern side of the possible enclosure identified by the geophysical survey, one of which revealed a corresponding north-west to south-east aligned feature. Unfortunately this small, shallow ditch produced no dating evidence.
The other ditches were all aligned north-north-east to south-south-west. Although one of these features produced several Roman pottery sherds (along with a small quantity of animal bone), this was actually one of the two features that can be convincingly associated with former field boundaries depicted on (S1). The other produced finds of much more recent date, including a fragment of modern ceramic building material, barbed wire and shotgun cartridges. The two other ditches produced no dating evidence but were most likely associated with field boundaries of medieval to post-medieval date.
The single pit was an unremarkable feature that also produced no dating evidence (it should also be noted that this feature coincides with the line of a probable ditch identified by the geophysical survey).
The only feature of interest was a linear band of compact, stony material in the south-east corner of the site that is recorded as having contained occasional fragments of ceramic building material and charcoal. This coincided with a geophysical anomaly (seen as geological in origin) and was interpreted as a possible trackway or an attempt to consolidate an area of wet ground.
No unstratified finds were recovered.
See report (S2) for further details. The figures accompanying this report indicate that one of the linear anomalies identified by the preceding geophysical survey probably coincides with a modern service (and was therefore not investigated as part of this work).
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2020.131).
P. Watkins (HES), 25 July 2021. Amended 8 December 2022.