NHER 65679 (Monument record) - Potentially Roman and post-medieval linear features

September 2014. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site.
This survey identified a number of north-east to south-west and north-west to south-east aligned linear anomalies likely to represent ditches associated with an earlier field system. These include two adjacent north-west to south-east aligned anomalies in the north-east corner of the site that coincide with a previously recorded linear cropmark (NHER 43570). A perpendicular anomaly extending to the north-east of these features is likely to represent a contemporary field boundary and a pair of similarly aligned anomalies in the central part of the site are probably elements of the same field system.
Responses likely to represent features associated with a distinct phase of activity include a pair of parallel east-to-west aligned linear anomalies crossing the central part of the site. The weakly enhanced character of these anomalies suggests they are likely to represent infilled ditches, rather than modern features such as buried services. Two similarly-aligned, shorter linear anomalies were recorded in the vicinity of these features and a single perpendicular, north-to-south aligned linear anomaly was identified at the western edge of the site.
Numerous parallel north-to-south aligned linear anomalies are likely to represent the traces of past cultivation.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 14 June 2022.

November 2015. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of revised proposed development area comprising the eastern half of the area examined by the preceding geophysical survey.
The eight trenches excavated revealed a number of linear features, all of which corresponded with previously identified geophysical anomalies. Although finds were recovered, the dating evidence is far from conclusive and somewhat at odds with what would be expected from the orientations of the features.
The pair of north-west to south-east aligned anomalies in the north-east corner of the site were found to represent a broad feature with an undulating flattish base and an adjacent ditch. The former is interpreted as a possible trackway and is probably the feature visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs (NHER 43570). The two slots excavated across it produced a mixed finds assemblage comprising four Iron Age pottery sherds, a Roman box tile, single fragments of post-medieval pottery and ceramic building material and a fragment of undatable iron slag. The adjacent ditch produced seven additional sherds of Iron Age pottery, a post-medieval brick fragment and several animal bones. Due to the presence of the post-medieval finds and the abraded nature of the earlier material these remains are regarded as relatively recent in date, although it should be noted that their orientations as completely at odds with the field system present in the late post-medieval period. A trench placed across the similarly-aligned and perpendicular anomalies recorded in the central part of the field revealed no corresponding remains.
The two adjacent east-to-west aligned geophysical anomalies crossing the central part of the site were though both found to have corresponding ditches. Dating evidence from these was limited to six Roman pottery sherds, all of which were recovered from a single slot excavated through the southern ditch.
Several parallel, shallow, north-to-south aligned linear features in the western half of the site were regarded as probable plough furrows of possible medieval date. These coincided with one of the groups of similarly-aligned geophysical anomalies that had also been regarded as evidence of past cultivation.
No unstratified finds were recovered.
See report (S1) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2019.233).
P. Watkins (HES), 14 June 2022.