NHER 69896 (Monument record) - Saxon pit, post-medieval ditches and pits and other, undated remains

August 2020. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potential archaeological impact of proposed development.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 15 June 2026.

February 2022. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of part of large proposed development site (F3).
This survey revealed little of potential archaeological interest.
The more notable responses included two short, high-magnitude anomalies parallel with and adjacent to the western and eastern boundaries of the field – both of which are seen as being of uncertain origin. An area of magnetic disturbance at TG 2309 1715 can be seen to coincide with a pond or former quarry pit marked at this location on the Ordnance Survey First Edition map (S2). The majority of the remaining discrete anomalies are regarded as being natural in origin. Areas of magnetic disturbance around the margins of the field and scattered dipolar 'spikes' were probably caused by ferrous material on, or close to the surface – most likely modern debris.
Information from draft report.
P. Watkins (HES), 15 June 2026.

February-April 2023. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of part of large proposed development site (Trenches 79-113).
The 35 trenches excavated at this location revealed a low density of widely dispersed linear and discrete features, the majority of which produced little or no dating evidence.
The pits recorded included several features in the eastern part of the site with charcoal-rich fills that containing varying quantities of burnt flint. The presence of burnt flint is often seen as being indicative of a prehistoric date, but at least two of these pits appear to have been similar to features elsewhere that are now thought to represent the traces of small-scale charcoal production. The latter interpretation is potentially supported by an Early/Middle Saxon radiocarbon date of 581-652 cal AD at 95.4% probability (SUERC-128838; 1443 +/- 26 BP) obtained for oak sapwood charcoal from one of the pits. This is though notably earlier than the predominantly Late Saxon to early medieval dates obtained for similar features uncovered at sites immediately to the north (NHERs 69894 and 69895) and elsewhere in the Norwich environs.
The majority of the ditches uncovered lay in the eastern half of the site, with the majority being relatively narrow north-east to south-west and north-west to south-east aligned features. The majority produced no dating evidence, the exceptions being nearby features that both contained small amounts of post-medieval ceramic building material. One also contained a single late medieval/early post-medieval pottery sherd.
A number of large probable quarry pits were recorded. One produced only a single medieval pottery sherd but the majority of the others were found to contain fragments of post-medieval ceramic building material.
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 15 June 2026.