NHER 65209 (Monument record) - Multi-period and undated remains, including Bronze Age round barrow and Roman cremation burial

January 2016. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site at southern end of field.
By far the most significant anomaly was a substantial ring-ditch at TG 1142 1060, approximately half of which extended into the area examined. This has a diameter of approximately 30m and coincides with one of three probable Bronze Age round barrows visible as cropmarks and earthworks on aerial photographs of this field (a group recorded as NHER 12809). A small number of discrete areas of magnetic enhancement within the ring-ditch are of uncertain origin but may represent infilled pit-type features.
Several additional, much weaker curvilinear trends may also represent ring-ditches, although with diameters of between 9m and 11m they are unlikely to be the remains of barrow monuments.
Other potentially archaeologically-significant responses include two north-west to south-east aligned linear anomalies that potentially represent infilled ditches. One that appears to turn to the north at its eastern end coincides with another previously mapped cropmark, which is part of a group of undated fragmentary features recorded as NHER 53682. There was no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with the two other cropmarks in this group that fall within the area examined. A north-north-east to south-south west aligned linear anomaly towards the eastern edge of the site was also likely to represent an infilled ditch.
Numerous amorphous discrete anomalies in a band close to the southern end of the site are all 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).
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 16 May 2022.

January-February 2016. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of proposed development site at southern end of field.
This study concluded that the site has a high archaeological potential, primarily due to the presence of the probable barrow cemetery (NHER 12809).
No cropmarks or earthworks were noted during a brief site visit undertaken as part of this work. It is noted that the proposed development area is located on the base and lower northern slope of a shallow dry valley. A single heavily burnt flint of possible prehistoric date was recovered from the ground surface.
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 16 May 2022.

March-April 2016. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site at southern end of field.
Two of the 33 trenches excavated were positioned to investigate the ring-ditch identified by the preceding geophysical survey and likely to represent the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow. As expected, the associated ditch was found to be a substantial feature, between 2.25m and 5.20m wide and up to 0.56m deep. In both excavated slots two fills were recorded, the uppermost of which appeared to extend beyond the top of the ditch cut, suggesting it was at least partially composed of eroded bank material. This secondary fill produced a residual Early Neolithic flint flake, a small quantity of Late Iron Age/early Roman transitional pottery (most likely dating to the mid-late 1st century AD) and a copper alloy Roman pin. Samples from the two deposits produced charcoal and a small number of indeterminate charred cereal grains. No features were identified within the small portion of the ring-ditches interior that was examined.
The trenches excavated elsewhere on the site revealed a range of linear and discrete features, the most notable of which was a Roman cremation burial. This was contained within an inverted grey ware vessel of probable later 1st century date, the lower portion of which had been lost. Although presumed to lie within some form of pit, the cut of this feature was difficult to make out in the colluvial material through which it had been dug.
Although a number of discrete features were investigated these were mostly scattered and fairly unremarkable possible pits and post-holes. Only one contained any dating evidence – a pit in the south-west corner of the field that produced a small quantity of Late Iron Age/early Roman transitional pottery.
Several of the ditches recorded appeared to be associated with the straight linear responses recorded by the geophysical survey, including the particularly extensive north-west to south-east and north-north-east to south-south-west aligned anomalies. The latter was found to be a particular substantial feature with a ‘v’-shaped profile. The majority of the other ditches recorded were either parallel with or perpendicular to these features. Collectively these ditches appear to represent elements of at least one field system predating that present by the late post-medieval period. A small number of other, differently aligned ditches may though have been associated with other phases of activity. Finds were scarce, with the majority of the ditches producing little or no dating evidence. The substantial ditch at the eastern edge of the site did however contain a small quantity of undiagnostic Late Prehistoric pottery and several Late Iron Age/early Roman transitional sherds were recovered from the other ditches. The general absence of later material is also notable, with only a small number of medieval and later objects recovered. These finds were all from unstratified contexts and none are indicative of significant activity at this particular location.
Samples taken from the fills of the various potentially prehistoric to Roman features were found to contain charcoal, cereal grains and small quantities of other charred plant macrofossils.
None of the more ephemeral curvilinear anomalies identified by the geophysical survey were found to be associated with archaeological remains. In two case it was observed that the recorded anomalies were probably the results of variations in the natural geology.
Unstratified finds recovered included worked flints of probable Early Neolithic and Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date; Late Iron Age/early Roman and early Roman pottery sherds; at least one possible Roman tile fragment; part of a post-medieval clay tobacco pipe, a single undatable piece of iron metal-worked debris, Roman and post-medieval coins and a small assemblage of other metal objects, comprising a medieval lead seal matrix, a post-medieval furniture handle, button, tack and seed drill cup and an undated unidentified iron object and fragment of lead waste.
See report (S3) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.339).
P. Watkins (HES), 16 May 2022.

November 2019-February 2020. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of land on route of proposed North Tuddenham to Easton A47 Improvement Works (Area F32).
Potentially archaeologically-significant responses included a pair of parallel north-north-east to south-south-west aligned at the southern edge of the field. A number of fragmentary, roughly perpendicular anomalies in this part of the site may also represent infilled ditches. Evidence recovered during the earlier work to the south suggests that these could well be features of Late Iron Age to Roman date.
A large discrete area of magnetic disturbance in the north-east corner of the site probably represent an infilled quarry pit. Other discrete anomalies are 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).
There was no clear evidence for sub-surface remains associated with a possible ring-ditch visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs at TG 1171 1063 (recorded as part of NHER 12809 - a group of cropmarks, soilmarks and slight earthworks likely to represent a Bronze Age barrow cemetery).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 May 2022.

July-October 2020. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of land on route of proposed North Tuddenham to Easton A47 Improvement Works (Area 38; Trenches 446, 448-451, 453-464 and 466-469 and 472).
The 22 trenches excavated at this location revealed only a small number of scattered linear and discrete features.
The most notable remains occurred in a trench positioned to investigate the possible ring-ditch visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs at TG 1171 1063 (recorded as part of possible barrow cemetery NHER 12809). A slight rise in the ground level was noted at this location and the excavation of the trench revealed a soil horizon that was tentatively interpreted as the remains of a barrow mound. A ditch recorded to the south was seen as potentially associated with this deposit, although it lay some distance from the recorded position of the cropmark. The limited dating evidence recovered also doesn't really support this suggestion, with both the possible mound deposit and the fill of the ditch producing single pottery sherds of probable Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age date. The only other find recovered was a Mesolithic/Neolithic flint flake. Samples taken from these deposits were found to contain moderate amounts of highly fragmented charcoal but little else in the way of plant macrofossils or other remains.
The features recorded elsewhere were all undated and fairly unremarkable.
A ditch exposed close to the southern edge of the site corresponds with a one of the pair of parallel linear anomalies identified by the preceding geophysical survey. As this was the only anomaly to coincide with the excavated trenches the nature of the others recorded in this part of the site remains uncertain.
See report (S4) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2020.131).
P. Watkins (HES), 13 May 2022. Amended 8 December 2022.