NHER 65420 (Monument record) - Probable prehistoric field system, Early Bronze Age cremation, Iron Age settlement and post-medieval field boundaries

November 2017. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site of proposed quarry extension (Area 1).
This survey identified an a number of north-north-west to south-south-east linear anomalies, three of which correspond with former field boundaries depicted on an enclosure map of 1812 (S1). A perpendicular linear anomaly at the southern edge of the site also corresponds with a boundary shown on this map. Single north-east to south-west and north-west to south-east aligned linear anomalies in the western half of the field potentially represent boundaries associated with a different (most likely earlier) field system. A series of parallel striations adjacent to one of these features were tentatively interpreted as traces of ridge and furrow cultivation.
A large discrete area of magnetic disturbance at the southern edge of the site potentially represents an infilled former quarry or pond, although nothing of this nature is marked at this location on the available historical maps.
Two small curvilinear anomalies were possibly ring-ditches, although they were most likely geological in origin.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 23 February 2022.

November-December 2017. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site of proposed quarry extension (Area 1).
The 23 trenches excavated revealed a low density scatter of linear and discrete features. Of most interest were two sub-circular pits close to the northern edge of the site that both produced small quantities of Iron Age pottery. Samples taken from the fills of these features were found to contain small quantities of charred grain and charcoal fragments but no other carbonised plant macrofossils.
Although a number of other possible pits were recorded across the site these were mostly fairly unremarkable features that produced no finds. A number of these pits were though identified in the same trench as one of the Iron Age pits so it is possible at least some were of this date. An additional sherd of Iron Age pottery was also recovered from an irregular discrete features towards the eastern end of the site.
Various ditches were identified, many of which corresponded with both geophysical anomalies and former boundaries depicted on 19th-century maps. As would be expected the finds from these features were limited to objects of post-medieval and post-medieval/modern date.
The two linear geophysical anomalies that potentially represented earlier field boundaries were also found to be associated with sub-surface remains, although unfortunately one produced no dating evidence and the other was left unexcavated (being interpreted as a plough scar). This work did however revealed a small number of additional potentially early ditches. These included an extensive north-east to south-west aligned ditch crossing the central part of the site, which produced a single sherd of early Roman pottery.
The large geophysical anomaly at the southern edge of the site was found to correspond with a substantial feature. The nature of this was uncertain, although it was felt that the homogenous deposits it contained were not consistent with it having been a pond.
A small number of burnt flints were the only unstratified finds recovered.
See report (S2) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2018.101).
P. Watkins (HES), 23 February 2022.

July 2019. Desk-based Assessment.
Cultural heritage assessment of site of proposed extension to Earsham Quarry (Area 1).
One notable source consulted as part of this study was a late 18th-century estate map (S3), which depicts the site in question. All of the land divisions shown within the bounds of the site on the 1812 enclosure maps can be seen to have present by 1771.
See report (S4) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 23 February 2022.

May-June 2021. Excavation.
Excavation at site of proposed extension to Earsham Quarry (Area 1).
This phase of work saw the investigation of a large portion of the eastern half of the site, where the preceding trial trenching had identified at least two potentially Iron Age features.
A large number of discrete features and several ditches were exposed, the majority of which appear to have been associated with prehistoric phases of activity.
The earliest feature was a small, isolated cremation burial that contained a significant amount of decorated Early Bronze Age pottery and fragments of calcined human bone. Other evidence for activity on the site prior to the Iron Age included a Neolithic polished flint axehead and a Neolithic flint blade.
As during the earlier phases of work a number of north-east to south-west and north-west to south-east aligned ditches were identified that were likely to predate the post-medieval ditches associated with documented former field boundaries. Although the dating evidence from these features was limited to a small number of Late Iron Age sherds it is suggested that they may actually represent a field system with Bronze Age origins. The bulk of the features exposed were though of more definite Iron Age date, including numerous pits and post-holes, some of which appear to have been the associated with timber structures. The densest cluster of these remains lay to the west of the extensive north-east to south-west aligned ditch that had been identified during the trial trenching (and which produced the single Roman sherd recovered) and north of a perpendicular ditch that extended to the west. This suggests these boundaries were at least still extant in some form during the Iron Age, with the bulk of the activity seemingly taking place within an area bounded by at least two of the ditches. A number of post-hole structures were identified, including a possible fence line that appeared to respect one of the ditched boundaries and at least one four-post structure. Two parallel possible beamslots appeared to represent the remains of another small structure. Various clusters of pits were also present, which had probable had a variety of functions.
The excavation produced a sizable assemblage of worked flints, the bulk of which consisted of roughly-worked pieces recovered from the area with the greatest density of prehistoric remains.
The only evidence for later activity on the site was two ditches that correspond with boundaries shown on 18th and 19th-century maps – both of which had been identified by the geophysical survey and investigated during the subsequent trial trenching. These produced a range of post-medieval finds, including pottery, ceramic building material, clay tobacco pipe fragments, iron objects and animal bone. A small number of medieval pottery sherds were also recovered from these ditches.
This phase of work also saw a trench excavated in the vicinity of the large pond or quarry pit that had been identified at the southern edge of the site. Post-medieval pottery and ceramic building material recovered from its surface was the only dating evidence recovered.
Information from assessment statement (S5). Final reports awaited.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2020.116).
P. Watkins (HES), 23 February 2022. Amended 27 April 2024.