NHER 65289 (Monument record) - Undated ditches and ?post-medieval quarry

June 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site.
Potentially archaeologically-significant responses included two extensive linear positive anomalies, one aligned north-east to south-west and the other north-west to south-east. The former corresponds with a previously recorded linear cropmark (NHER 25507).
Although numerous other amorphous and sinuous positive anomalies were detected their characteristics suggest they were most likely the result of variations in the underlying geology.
One notable exception was a much larger, more diffuse, weaker anomaly towards the southern end of the site that may represent an area of former sand/gravel extraction.
Several groups of positive curvilinear anomalies may represent archaeological remains, although a natural origin remains the most likely.
See report (S1) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2021.109).
P. Watkins (HES), 4 February 2022. Amended 8 December 2022.

July 2021. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
The 20 trenches excavated revealed little in the way of archaeologically significant remains, with only three undated ditches and a large probable quarry pit recorded.
One of the ditches was an extensive north-east to south-west aligned feature that corresponded with both a previously identified geophysical anomaly and a cropmark visible on aerial photographs (NHER 25507). Although no finds were recovered from the excavated slots its pale, leached and sterile fill suggested it may have been of some antiquity. The other two ditches were both north-to-south aligned features that were each observed in only a single trench.
The large pit coincided with the geophysical anomaly that had been thought to represent an area of quarrying and is presumed to have been post-medieval in date, although the only finds recorded were small abraded fragments of Roman or medieval tile.
None of the curvilinear geophysical anomalies were associated with sub-surface remains.
A small, multi-period assemblage of worked flints was recovered from unstratified topsoil contexts. These include a Mesolithic/Early Neolithic end scraper, a Mesolithic/Early Neolithic blade core and blade and a number of Neolithic/Bronze and later flakes.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2021.109).
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 February 2022. Amended 8 December 2022.