NHER 8311 (Monument record) - Roman cremation cemetery and multi-period finds

1830. Casual Finds.
Several Roman urns were recovered in Stalham. Drawings of the urns variably refer to being one of a group of two, three or four objects. The exact number is therefore uncertain, but four urns were drawn. Three drawings are labeled as found in 1830 and area described here. One is labelled as found in 1854 (see below).
Urn I: One of two identical earthen urns found by workmen and broken during digging.
Urn II: Earthen urn found with three others in a field at Stalham. Small jar with constricted neck.
Urn III: Earthen urn found, together with two others, by laboureres in a field at Stalham. All were broken during digging. Small bowl with constricted foot.
See copies of drawings (S1) in file. These drawings are also referenced in (S2).
According to (S3) a Roman jar found with two others in 'The Roman Field' in 1830 contained fragments of bones.
J. Webb indicated in 1939 that 'Roman' coins of Antoninus were dug up in the same field.
It is possible that this pottery is from Chapel Field where many lathe turned urns of blue clay were found (S4). Woodward (S5) illustrates a jar 17.8cm (7in) high and 17.8cm (7in) across.
R. R. Clarke (NCM).

1853. Stray Find.
Found in "The Bloody Field":
1 "?Acheulian axe". Presumably a Palaeolithic flint handaxe. See illustration in (S6).
Information from (S7).
This object is almost certainly the reason that Stalham was listed in (S8) as a location that had produced Palaeolithic material prior to 1907 - (S6) being listed as the principle source.
The above information is also noted on (S9) and in (S10), (S11) and (S12), although no additional information is given.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 5 June 2014.

1854. Casual find.
Two identical earthen urns were found in a field in Stalham traditionally known as 'The Bloody Field.' (3ft) high buff colour.
See drawing (S1, 155). It is not clear whether this is the counterpart to the urn depicted in (S1, 152) and the date is mislabelled on one of the drawings or whether this represents a completely separate find.
This drawing is also referenced in (S2).
R. R. Clarke (NCM).

1905. Casual Find.
A report in the EDP (S13) and The Standard (S14) probably refers to a Roman cremation cemetery in which the pots were broken by the plough and each one apparently contained ashes. Found on Stewards 8 Acres by tower drainage mill on Manor Farm (according to F. Durrell), a half mile on east side of Wayford Bridge. Several years before, a number of burial urns 'on rising ground '.
Note: F. Durrell in 1912 lived at Manor Farm, Smallburgh. W. Durrel in 1912 lived at Manor Farm, Stalham. (called Smallburgh but nothing to do with Anglo Saxon finds in 'The Burnt Field' 1856)
R. R. Clarke (NCM).

1987. Surface finds from field.
Flint blades, stone fragment
Roman, medieval, Late Saxon, and post medieval sherds.
See list in file.
A. Gregory (NAU) 15 September 1987.

Finder stated in 1997 that these (1987) finds really come from site NHER 13074.
However after this length of time there may be confusion and so they are entered under both sites.
E. Rose (NLA), 25 November 1997 - information from W. Milligan (NCM).

In 1999 finder stated they (1987 finds) came from site NHER 23726.

1996. West of sewage farm.
Two flint flakes and two pot boilers.
See report by P. Robins (NCM) 7 October 1996.
Two medieval unglazed sherds.
Post medieval double sided mould. Tapering bronze cylinder with hemispherical hollow at either end and remains of handle. For sweetmeats or musket balls?
W. Milligan (NCM) 11 February 1997.