NHER 66603 (Monument record) - Iron Age, Roman and undated remains

November 2020-March 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Norwich Western Link (Area 6).
This survey identified a series of north-east to south-west and north-west to south-east aligned linear anomalies likely to represent infilled ditches, the arrangement of which suggests they were potentially broadly contemporary elements of the same field system. The date of these features is uncertain, although none appear to be associated with the boundaries and other features depicted on the available 19th-century maps.
The majority of the other linear and discrete anomalies recorded are thought to be either natural in origin or the result of recent agricultural activity.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 June 2026.

May-July 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on proposed route of Norwich Western Link (Field TT20; Trenches 44-51).
The eight trenches excavated at this location revealed a range of linear and discrete feature, including a number of ditches associated with the linear anomalies identified by the preceding geophysical survey. Although dating evidence was limited, the finds that were recovered are exclusively prehistoric and Roman in date, with later material notably absent.
Features of likely prehistoric date included a pit and an adjacent post-hole containing Early Iron Age pottery and a pit that produced a small amount of Middle Iron Age pottery. A sample taken from the former contained occasional charred cereal grains and a moderate amount of charcoal. The site also produced a small assemblage of prehistoric worked flints, although few pieces are particularly diagnostic and most were probably residual within later features.
The one feature of probable Roman date was a pit at the eastern end of the site that contained a small amount of Roman pottery. A sample from this pit also contained charred cereal grain and charcoal.
All but one of the north-west to south-east and north-east to south-west aligned geophysical anomalies was found to have a corresponding ditch. The date of this probable field system does though remains uncertain, finds from the excavated ditches being limited to a single Roman pottery sherd. Three north-to-south aligned ditches were also recorded that had not been identified by the geophysical survey. These were all undated but presumably related to a different - most likely more recent – phase of land division.
Other undated features included two groups of small post-holes and several additional pits.
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 June 2026.