NHER 9310 (Find Spot record) - Prehistoric flint working site and multi-period finds, Earlham/Bowthorpe Marshes

1973. Stray Find.
Found by [1] at TG 1850 0885:
1 Neolithic flaked flint axehead (butt end of slender axe). Information from (S1) (sketch on reverse).

1970s. Fieldwalking.
Various worked flints collected by [2] in area extending from West Earlham Estate to field boundary on west and from 30m (100ft) contour on north to river meadows on south.

Found along east edge of field:
Mesolithic blades, bladelets and possible [core] trimming flake.
Neolithic polished axehead fragment and possible chipped waisted axe.

Further worked flints recovered by [2] in 1976:
Extensive Mesolithic scatter, including more blades, bladelets, borers, scrapers, and axe fragments.
2 Neolithic polished flint axehead fragments.
2 Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age barbed and tanged arrowheads.
Pot boilers also found but not collected.

Finds donated to Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1976.506). Information from (S2). See finder's notes and plans in file. These discoveries were also reported in (S6).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 20 March 2014.

September 1984. Context 2 at location [3]. Found with metal detector.
15th century belt chape. Decorated bronze plates - casket mounts?
Half pewter/lead bird badge? Cylindrical spindle whorl, stone.
Undecorated strap end with loop at base for pendant, very damaged.
Early 16th century book clasp.
Photographs (S2) taken by NCM. Identified by S. Margeson (NCM).
E. B. Green (NCM) 24 October 1984.

1990. Fieldwalking.
Neolithic flint fabricator (polished on top) iron stained spots.
Identified by J. Wymer (NAU) 7 June 1990.

September 1991. Metal detector finds.
Medieval 14th century strap end made of two plates with cast 'animal-head' terminal, and criss-crossing lines of rocker-arm ornament on front plate; one rivet at each end and one at centre; terminal is lobed above animal head.
Middle Saxon strap end with animal-head terminal, and silver wire spirals inlaid with two vertical central fields. Fan-shaped field below two rivet holes at top. Animal-head very worn but good detail on lentoid ears.
Identified by S. Margeson (NCM) 15 January 1992.
S. Margeson (NCM) 15 January 1992.

September 1991 (or earlier). Metal detector finds predominantly in area centred on Context 3 at location [4].
Roman, Early Saxon (S7), Middle Saxon, Late Saxon, medieval metalwork.
Middle Saxon, Late Saxon coins.
Roman and medieval pottery and flints. These finds are held by NCM - see file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 1991.

October 1991. Metal detector finds.
Early Saxon, Middle Saxon, Late Saxon metalwork. See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 12 November 1991.

November 1991. Context 4 at location [5].
Borre-style disc brooch. Broken single pin-lug slightly damaged catch-plate. Photographed.
Identified by A. Rogerson (NLA) 10 December 1991.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 10 December 1991.

1993.
14th century seal matrix 'LEGE FRANGE TEGE' S' (read, break, conceal).
S. Margeson (NCM) 2 April 1993.

1993. Metal detector finds.
Four Roman coins. See list in file. Identified by J. Davies (NCM) 5 May 1993.
5th century cruciform brooch.
Medieval gilded bronze circular harness pendant.
Medieval crescentric belt-chape.
Post medieval bronze belt hook.
Charles I half groat mm harp (632-33).
9th century strap end terminal, animal head with modelled ears. Fragment of field above survives inlaid plus niello and twisted silver wire.
Bronze medieval belt mount rectangle, two rivets, alternating diagonal bands plane rocker arm within border.
Also reported to have been found in 1992 but since sold (not seen at NCM).
Three Late Saxon disc brooches (one Viking).
13th century cosmetic case complete except for mirror missing.
W. Milligan (NCM) 12 March 1993.

1993 or earlier.
Early Saxon brooch, reported to (S3) Treasure Hunting magazine.
See photocopy in file. Not seen.
D. Gurney (NLA) 11 January 1994.

1994. Metal detector finds.
Two plano-convex knives, Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age. See P. Robins' (NCM) report.
Two Roman coins. See list in file. Identified by J. Davies (NCM) 7 September 1994.
?Late Saxon brooch fragment ?Borre style. White metal coating in places on reverse with cast low relief roundel in centre and a triangular motif on each side of it.
Medieval loop of purse frame, decorated with double criss-crossing lines inlaid with niello.
Medieval gilded bronze stud, crown and fleur-de-lis and two spikes on reverse - belt.
Medieval counter-plate from folding clasp with reinforcement bar and two shanks with roves on reverse.
Early post medieval thimble.
Post medieval bronze S-shaped fastener, belt.
Identified by S. Margeson (NCM) October 1994.
Polaroid (S4) in file.
W. Milligan (NCM) 27 October 1994.

1996. M/d find. Context 2 (as above).
1st century Aesica brooch.
Polaroid (S4) in file.
W. Milligan (NCM) 10 September 1996.

October 1998. Watching Brief.
Observation of water pipe trench along south side of site revealed Bronze Age sherds and flints.
Context 5 used.
See report (S5) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S8).
E. Rose, 15 April 1999.

Before 29 June 2000. Metal detecting. Site extended.
Medieval seal matrix and finger ring/signet ring.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 22 December 2000.

May-June 2013. Metal-detecting. [6].
Medieval copper alloy finger ring.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 August 2013.