NHER 9732 (Monument record) - Site of Roman villa complex with associated and later Roman buildings

1930. Casual find.
A Roman coin was found on Broom Hill, west of Blackford Hall [1].
This has been identified as an as of Trajan, AD 98-117.
H. Hamilton (NLA), 16 February 2009.

July 1978. NAU aerial photography.
Cropmarks of a posthole structure are visible adjacent to linear cropmarks. Up to eighteen post holes (9 pairs) are visible.
See (S1) for further details.
D. Edwards (NAU), 16 May 1980.

Pre 1982. Casual find.
A barb and tanged arrowhead was recovered [2].
This object has been dated to the Beaker period.
H. Hamilton (NLA), 16 February 2009.

1984. Metal-detecting.
A variety of Roman, medieval and post-medieval metal objects were recovered.
Roman items were identified as: five 3rd-4th century Roman coins, a 2nd-3rd century flat phallic pendant, a lid of a seal box with blue and green enamel, a 2nd-3rd century ring with paste inlay, and 2nd-3rd century bronze enamelled stud for leather or furniture with blue-green enamel around an orange centre.

1986. Metal-detecting.
A fragment of an inscribed silver-gilt ring was recovered [4].
The inscription has been transcribed as ANETZ-M.
Photo, Norwich Castle Museum.
H. Hamilton (NLA), 16 February 2009.

September 1987.

January-March 1988.
Found with metal-detector.
Roman, medieval and post-medieval metalwork (S13).

1991. Metal-detector finds.
Roman coins and metalwork, medieval-post medieval metalwork.

Pre 23 January 1991. Metal-detecting.
4 Roman coins and 1 pottery sherd (with many holes)
1 Early Saxon brooch (cruciform side knob).
Coins identified by J. Davies and other objects probably by W. Milligan (NCM). See notes and coin sheet in file [9].
P. Watkins (HES), 14 September 2016.

1992. Found with metal-detector.
Roman and medieval metalwork.

1993. Found with metal-detector.
Roman and post-medieval metalwork.

1992-1993. Metal-detecting.
Found by [1]:
1 ?Mesolithic flint blade.
5 Roman coins and 1 pottery sherd (buffware handle).
1 ?medieval ?harness mount.
Found by [2]:
9 Roman coins.
2 medieval coins.
1 post-medieval coin.
Compiled by W. Milligan (NCM), 16 November 1993.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 28 March 2014.

1994. Metal-detector find.
Medieval coin.
Early Saxon and medieval metalwork.

1999. Excavation.
Two small excavations within a Roman pottery scatter and crop-mark site produced dense tile deposits, almost certainly representing a building. Pottery found nearby may indicate a grey ware kiln site.
This work is noted in (S8).
D. Holburn (HES), 21 November 2011.

July-August 2001. Metal-detecting.
6 Roman coins, 2 furniture studs,
Coins identified by A. Popescu (NLA) and other objects Identified by S. Ashley (NLA). See list in file.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 11 March 2014.

February-March 2002. Metal-detecting.
1 prehistoric flint flake.
2 Roman coins and 7 pottery sherds (greyware).
6 medieval pottery sherds and 1 brick fragment.
1 undated lead weight and 1 brick/tile fragment.
Coins identified by A. Marsden (NLA), pottery and flints by A. Rogerson (NLA) and other objects by S. Ashley (NLA).
Updated by J. Page (HES), 20 February 2014.

June-July 2002. Metal-detecting.
Roman coins.
See list in file.

September - October 2002, Metal-detecting.
1 medieval horse harness pendant (gilt).
Identified by S. Ashley (NLA). See list in file.
See drawing (S10).
J. Page (HES), 20 February 2014

October 2002. Metal-detecting.
Two Roman coins.
See list in file.

2002. Geophysical Survey.
See report (S2) for further details.

December 2002-January 2003. Metal-detecting.
Five Roman and one post-medieval coin. Roman sherd.
See list in file.

February-March 2003. Metal-detecting.
6 Roman coins.
1 medieval harness pendant.
Coins identified by A. Marsden (NLA) and other object by S. Ashley (NLA). See lists in file.
J. Page (HES), 20 February 2014.

May-June 2003. Metal-detecting.
1 Roman brooch.
1 medieval sherd.
Pottery identified by A. Rogerson (NLA) and other object by S. Ashley (NLA). See lists in file.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 20 February 2014.

June-July 2003. Metal-detecting.
Three Roman coins.
See list in file.

September 2003. Excavation suggests site of building.
See notes in file.

September-October 2003. Metal-detecting.
1 Late Saxon strap end.
Identified by S. Ashley (NLA). See file.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 11 March 2014.

November-December 2003. Metal-detecting.
1 Bronze Age axe fragment (S11).
1 Iron Age/Roman terret.
2 Roman brooches (langton down type), 1 toilet set fragment and 1 unidentified object.
1 Late Saxon beam balance stirrup.
1 medieval silver finger ring fragment.
1 medieval/post medieval purse bar fragment.
2 post-medieval belt mounts and 1 divider fragment.
1 undatable unidentified object.
Identified by S. Ashley (NLA). See lists in file. Updated by J. Page (HES), 20 February 2014.

October 2005. Norfolk Archaeological and Historical Research Group gridded fieldwalking.
Roman sherds, tesserae, and tiles, one ?Early Saxon sherd, a few medieval and post-medieval sherds, medieval brick, and post-medieval tiles.
See lists and (S2) in file.

October 2005. Norfolk Archaeological and Historical Research Group field survey.
Surprisingly small selection of worked flints, Neolithic and late prehistoric.
See list in file.

August 2007. NAHRG excavation.
38 prehistoric flint flakes, 1 ?retouched flint flake and 1 pot boiler.
2 ?Iron Age pottery sherds.
138 Roman pottery sherds. 14 ceramic brick/tile fragments, 2 imbrices and 4 fragments of fired clay.
1 Early-Mid Saxon pottery sherd.
1 ?Early-Mid Saxon pottery sherd.
1 Medieval pottery sherd (strap handle)
Flints identified by P. Robins (NCM) and ceramic objects by A. Rogerson (NLA). See list in file,
Updated by J. Page (HES), 20 February 2014.

August 2007. Metal-detecting on NAHRG excavation.
4 Roman coins, 1 iron sickle fragment and 1 spoon fragment.
1 ?post-medieval iron hoe blade.
Coins identified by A. Marsden (NLA) and other objects by S. Ashley (NLA). See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 14 September 2007.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 20 February 2014.

See file for lists of worked flints and ceramics found in NAHRG excavations Aug 2007.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 14 February 2008.

September 2007.
Three trenches were excavated following a programme of fieldwork by NAHRG. The first trench revealed a mortar foundation wall with walls slightly offset to the west and east. The west wall revealed a post hole which retained a small piece of original timber. A large ditch cuts through the entire length of the building and is though to be post- Roman. The fill contained an abundance of Roman roof and flue tile fragments, fragments of iron agricultural implements and a silvered Roman spoon handle. The second trench revealed mortar wall foundations and a hard clay floor. In the centre was evidence of industrial activity, fragments of charcoal burning and slag. In the north of the trench two large post holes were excavated. The pit fill revealed that the posts were packed in with large broken Roman roof tile and the backfill contained Roman pottery and large fragments of painted wall plaster. A possible wall partition was observed with a thin line of wall plaster in situ. The third trench revealed a small hearth or kiln with a floor of tegulae covered over by a fired clay furnace chamber and flue in turn surmounted by curved imbrex tiles. A small piece of Roman glass was recovered.
See (S4) and (S5) for further information.
H. White (NLA), 6 February 2009.

February-March 2008. Metal-detecting.
12 Roman coins, 1 furniture nail, 1 furniture fitting and 1 harness mount.
1 medieval buckle.
1 post-medieval sword belt mount and 1 furniture fitting fragment.
1 undated unidentified object.
Coins identified by A. Marsden (NLA) and other objects by S. Ashley (NLA).
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 19 April 2008.

Metal-detecting.
Before 10 November 1993: 7 Roman, 2 medieval and 1 post-medieval coin; Late Saxon, medieval and post-medieval metal objects; Romano British sherds.
1994 and 1995: 1 medieval coin; Romano British and post-medieval sherds.
Before 9 January 1996: Romano British, medieval and medieval/post-medieval metal objects.
1996: Trumpet brooch, drawing but no other details.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 30 September 2008.

March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of the Roman villa of unusual plan and a large timber structure previously investigated by excavation are visible on aerial photographs (S1, S6-S7). The villa, which is centred on TG 2468 0166, consists of a series of central chambers or rooms, with two projecting wings to the north. A large timber post-hole structure overlies this to the immediate west. The cropmarks reveal traces of additional structural elements and probable walls to the east of the main villa structure. For discussion of additional cropmarks and post-built structures in the area immediately surrounding the villa, see NHER 53348.
S. Horlock (NMP), 23 March 2009.

2010. Fieldwalking.
Prehistoric, possibly Neolithic flint flakes and debitage suggesting a possible axe roughout preparation area on the hill top.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (HES), 25 February 2011.

January-June 2013. Fieldwalking. [6].
97 Roman pottery sherds and 24 tiles.
2 medieval pottery sherds.
1 post-medieval pottery sherd.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 August 2013.

March 2013. Metal-detecting. [7].
Probably Roman fragment of blown glass working waste (S12).
3 Roman coins.
Information from PAS import.
Also see (S12).
P. Watkins (HES), 4 June 2013. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 22 August 2016.

March-June 2013. Metal-detecting. [8].
5 Roman coins, possible furniture mount and ?Roman copper alloy ring fragment.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 August 2013.