NHER 9614 (Find Spot record) - Possible Palaeolthic flint implements, Thorpe Pit

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Summary

Various supposed Palaeolithic worked flints were recovered from this pit during the early 20th century. Most, if not all, of these "sub-crag" objects would probably now be regarded as extremely dubious artefacts. This pit is the possible source of a number of poorly-provenanced potentially Palaeolithic worked flints recorded as being from "Thorpe" (see NHER 58749 for further details).

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TG20NE
Civil Parish THORPE ST ANDREW, BROADLAND, NORFOLK

Map

1920s and 1930s. Stray Find.
During the 1920s and 1930s various supposedly "sub-crag" Palaeolithic implements were recovered from the Thorpe Pit (also known as the Town/Village Pit). Information from (S1).
The finds from this site include a "graver-like tool" that is described in detail by J. E. Sainty in (S2). The "sub-crag" flints from this pit are also noted and discussed in (S3), (S4) and (S5). It should be noted that most of the objects that were claimed as 'sub-crag' implements around this time are now considered to be unworked, naturally-fractured flints ('eoliths').

Various museums hold flints that were recovered in this pits.

The Birmingham City Museum holds a "Palaeolithic flake" from the Thorpe Pit (Bir 1928A25.8). Information from (S6).
Previously recorded as NHER 39500.

The British Museum holds a collection of flints from the Thorpe Pit that are now recorded as natural objects (2011,8095.839).

See (S1) and list in secondary file.
Compiled by E. Rose (NAU), 20 June 1983. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 9 May 2014.

This pit is the possible source of a Palaeolithic flint handaxe that was exhibited by J. E. Sainty at a meeting of the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia in January 1925. This pit may also have been the source of a number of other poorly-provenanced, potentially dubious Palaeolithic objects that are recorded as being from "Thorpe". These include including a collection of "Palaeolithic flint implements" held by the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1927.78.2) and 2 flakes in the British Museum (1989,0301.1211-1212). See NHER 58749 for further information on the unprovenanced Palaeolithic material from Thorpe St Andrew).
P. Watkins (HES), 9 May 2014.

  • --- Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
  • --- Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TG 20 NE 46.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • <S1> Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Miscellaneous Prehistoric.
  • <S2> Article in Serial: Burchell. 1933. A graver from below the crag. The Antiquaries Journal. Vol XIII Pt II p 159.
  • <S3> Article in Serial: Clarke, W. G et al. 1911. Report of the Special Committee. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia. Vol I Pt I (for 1909-1910) pp 24-43. p 39.
  • <S4> Article in Serial: Sainty, J. E. 1929. The Problems of the Crag. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia. Vol VI Pt II (for 1929) pp 57-75. pp 58-60, 69; Fig 4.
  • <S5> Article in Monograph: Sainty, J. E. 1935. Norfolk Prehistory. British Association for the Advancement of Science. Report of the Annual Meeting, 1935. Norwich, September 4-11. British Association for the Advancement of Science. Appendix pp 60-71. p 61.
  • <S6> Article in Serial: Watson, P. J. et al. 1999. Antiquities from Norfolk in West Midlands Museums. Norfolk Archaeology. vol XLIII Pt II pp 332-338. p 334.
  • FLAKE (Palaeolithic - 1000000 BC? to 10001 BC?)
  • FLAKE (Palaeolithic - 1000000 BC? to 10001 BC?)
  • LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Palaeolithic - 1000000 BC? to 10001 BC?)
  • WORKED OBJECT (Palaeolithic - 1000000 BC? to 10001 BC?)
  • WORKED OBJECT (Undated)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Jun 8 2016 8:45AM

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