NHER 65212 (Monument record) - Medieval enclosure and other undated and post-medieval remains

November 2019-February 2020. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of land on route of proposed North Tuddenham to Easton A47 Improvement Works (Area F33).
This survey identified a group of linear anomalies in the north-west corner of the site that appear to represent three sides of an enclosure adjacent to Blind Lane. Its northern side appears to have been formed by an east-to-west aligned ditch that continued beyond the enclosure to the east. A number of discrete anomalies within the enclosure were likely to represent infilled pit-type features and it is possible that many of the other anomalies in this area were also associated with archaeological remains.
The majority of the discrete anomalies recorded across the remainder of the site are though thought to be of probable geological origin.
Two large areas of magnetic disturbance at the western edge of the field correspond with features depicted as water-filled ponds on the Honingham tithe map of 1839 (S1). It is clear from how they are shown on the later Ordnance Survey First Edition Six Inch map (S2) that these were former quarry pits. It is highly likely that three large discrete areas of magnetic disturbance identified elsewhere in the field represent infilled pits associated with an earlier phase of quarrying.
There was no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with a cropmark ring-ditch recorded at the eastern end of the site (NHER 53679). There was also no evidence for surviving features associated with fragmentary linear cropmarks mapped at the western end of the site and in its south-east corner (NHERs 53683 and 53628 respectively).
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), 13 May 2022.

July-October 2020. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of land on route of proposed North Tuddenham to Easton A47 Improvement Works (Areas 41 and 42; Trenches 473-477, 479-485, 487-502, 504-505, 507-512, 514, 517-521).
Three of the 43 trenches excavated were positioned to investigate the probable enclosure in the north-west corner of the site that had been identified by the preceding geophysical survey. Ditches associated with all three sides of the enclosure were identified, although dating evidence was limited to two medieval pottery sherds and a single late medieval transitional (LMT) sherd. A number of pits and a possible post-hole were recorded within the interior of the enclosure, with one of the latter producing a relatively large assemblage of high medieval pottery (32 sherds). A sample from the fill of this medieval pit was found to contain highly fragmented charcoal but little else in the way of charred plant macrofossil or other debris.
A possible metalled surface was recorded immediately to the south of the enclosure which appeared to be running parallel to Blind Lane.
Only scattered linear and discrete features were recorded across the remainder of the site, none of which produced any finds. These undated remains included north-to-south, east-to-west and north-west to south-east aligned ditches, three possible post-holes and two probable natural tree-throw hollows.
There was no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with the fragmentary cropmarks mapped within this field (NHERs 53683 and 53628). Two trenches placed near the mapped location of a cropmark ring-ditch (NHER 53679) also identified no associated remains, although it should be noted that the ring-ditch itself appears to have been missed.
See report (S3) 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.