NHER 67163 (Monument record) - Remains of post-medieval road and undated ditch

February 2022. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site.
The most notable responses were three north-north-east to south-south-west aligned linear anomalies in the south-east part of the site. The easternmost of these coincides with a former routeway depicted on the Dunston tithe map (S1), which is thought to have followed the line of a Roman Road (the Pye Road; NHER 7947). The line of this road is associated with a number of linear cropmarks visible on aerial photographs (NHER 52170), although it is unclear whether these relate to the Roman road or the later routeway.
A number of curvilinear and discrete anomalies recorded across the remainder of the site potentially represent archaeologically-significant remains, although in most cases a natural origin is also possible (if not probable).
There was no clear evidence for surviving remains associated with a number of other, fragmentary linear cropmarks visible on aerial photographs of this field (part of groups recorded as NHERs 52143 and 52174
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 12 July 2023.

January 2023. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
The 21 trenches excavated revealed little in the way of archaeologically-significant remains.
Colluvial deposits were present in many of the trenches, running down slope to the south. A single prehistoric flint flake was the only find recovered from this material.
Features were limited to an undated ditch and a small number of what were most likely natural hollows. One of the latter contained a single sherd of heavily abraded prehistoric pottery.
Two trenches were positioned to coincide with the north-north-east to south-south-west aligned geophysical anomalies in the south-east part of the site. As noted above these anomalies potentially relate to a former road shown on 19th century maps and associated cropmarks features visible on aerial photographs (NHER 52170) - which may also represent the traces of an earlier, Roman routeway. In the trench closest to the south-east corner of the field the colluvium was overlain by a compact sand and gravel deposit with some yellow clay patches. This material contained 'modern' bottle glass, wood and iron (not retained) and was recorded as a made-ground deposit, although it was most likely the remains of the post-medieval road. Nothing of potential Roman date was identified.
Although the excavated trenches coincided with a number of other, fragmentary linear cropmarks (part of two large dispersed groups recorded as NHERs 52143 and 52174) none were found to be associated with surviving sub-surface remains.
The small assemblage of other unstratified finds recovered includes a unfinished Late Neolithic flint spearhead and a lead weight and decorative mount of late post-medieval or modern date.
See report (S3) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2023.21)
P. Watkins (HES), 12 July 2023. Amended 7 January 2024.