NHER 68622 (Monument record) - Roman and undated pits and possible ditch

1932. Excavation.
Excavation of Roman pit at TL 94278 83859, the location of which had been indicated "…on the surface by black soil and potsherds…".
This oval feature was roughly 0.5m deep and contained a range of Roman finds, including "…a considerable amount of pottery…", roof tiles, part of a lava quern, several iron objects (nails, a hook, a blade and awl with antler handle), an antler tool (a modified tine with its tip burnished by use), fragments of green window glass and pieces of at least two glass vessels. The pottery suggests a late 2nd- to early 3rd-century date for the pit.
The pottery from this excavation was donated to the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1939.10) but the present location of the other finds is uncertain.
Information from published article (S1) and record cards (S2) and (S3).
Previously recorded under NHER 6066.
P. Watkins (HES), 24 September 2024.

November 2013-March 2014. Watching Brief.
Maintained during groundworks associated with regeneration of woodland holiday facility.
The service trenches excavated revealed a total of seven pits, all but one of which produced small amounts of Roman pottery. Other finds recovered from these features included a small amount of iron smithing slag (including a plano-convex hearth bottom), fragments of fired clay and animal bone. Although much of the Roman pottery isn't closely datable the more diagnostic sherds suggest a possible 2nd-century date for the assemblage.
A single probable linear feature (presumably a ditch) was also recorded, although this produced no dating evidence.
Unstratified finds were limited to a small number of Roman pottery sherds.
See report (S4) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.473).
P. Watkins (HES), 24 September 2024.

March 2016. Watching Brief.
Maintained during foul drainage works.
No archaeologically-significant features or deposits were recorded and no finds recovered.
See report (S5) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 24 September 2024.