NHER 65199 (Monument record) - Possible prehistoric 'burnt mound' and post-medieval and undated features

November 2019-February 2020. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of land on route of proposed North Tuddenham to Easton A47 Improvement Works (Area F22).
This survey recorded three linear anomalies that are all thought to represent ditches associated with former field boundaries. One of these anomalies corresponds with a boundary depicted on the Honingham tithe map (S1) and another with one that first appears on the Ordnance Survey First Edition Six-inch map (S2). The third anomaly is a perpendicular feature extending from the northern end of the latter and is therefore likely to also represent a late post-medieval field boundary.
A series of roughly north-to-south aligned linear trends in the southern half of the field were of a more uncertain nature and potentially the result of agricultural activity.
Several irregular linear trends and a number of discrete areas of magnetic enhancement in this part of the site probably represent variations in the underlying natural geology.
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), 29 July 2021.

July-October 2020. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of land on route of proposed North Tuddenham to Easton A47 Improvement Works (Area 26; Trenches 279-294).
The 16 trenches revealed a number of linear and discrete features, none of which produced any dating evidence. The most interesting discovery was an extensive spread of calcinated flint in a dark, charcoal-rich matrix. This is likely to represent the remains of a ‘burnt mound’, that is, an accumulation of burnt stones that had built up at a location where they were being used to heat or boil water. A prehistoric date is therefore likely for this deposit, although no finds were recovered apart from a small number of fragmentary animal bones. A sample of the dark material produced little apart from substantially fragmented charcoal and it was noted that modern plant material and rooting dominated (a degree of disturbance that is not unexpected given the exposed, unsealed nature of the layer).
The majority of the ditches recorded corresponded with the previously identified geophysical anomalies and were therefore mostly of probable post-medieval date.
The discrete features included a single pit, several possible post-holes and two natural features; none of which were of any great interest.
Unstratified finds were limited to two sherds of late medieval/early post-medieval pottery.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2020.131).
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 29 July 2021. Amended 8 December 2022.