NHER 7391 (Find Spot record) - Neolithic axehead and other, prehistoric and medieval to modern finds

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Summary

A Neolithic part-polished axehead was found here during ploughing in 1959. A systematic fieldwalking and metal-detector survey of part of this field in 2021 recovered two prehistoric flint flakes; a potentially medieval pottery sherd; medieval and post-medieval coins and a range of other, predominantly undated and late post-medieval/modern metal objects. These metal finds included a medieval buckle; a medieval/post-medieval mount and post-medieval buttons and a buckle.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TG12NE
Civil Parish AYLSHAM, BROADLAND, NORFOLK

Map

1959. Stray Find.
Found in ploughing:
Neolithic chipped, partly polished flint axehead.
This find is noted in local press articles (S1) and (S2), being pictured in the latter along with a Neolithic polished axehead that was found nearby the following year (recorded as NHER 7392). This object is amongst those listed in (S3).
Donated to Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1960.150).
Information from record card (S4).
See also photograph (S5) - a copy of which was originally reproduced in (S2).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 15 January 2024.

January-February 2025. Systematic Fieldwalking and Metal-detecting Survey.
Field survey on proposed route of onshore cable for Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas Offshore Wind Farms (Fields 157 and 158).
No significant concentrations of material were identified. Finds recovered included:
1 prehistoric retouched blade and 1 blade-like flake.
10 copper alloy unidentified objects, 2 lead identified objects, 5 pieces of lead waste and an iron unidentified object.
1 medieval coin and a buckle.
1 ?medieval pottery sherd.
Medieval/post-medieval mount.
3 post-medieval coins, 9 buttons and a buckle.
6 post-medieval/modern buttons, a spoon, ?mount, 2 lead palm guards, lead mount, lead cloth or bag seal and lead spindle whorl.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
Expanded to whole field. Former extent recorded as Context 1.
P. Watkins (HES), 20 December 2025.

  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
  • <S1> Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1960. His Second Find. 26 May.
  • <S2> Newspaper Article: Eastern Evening News. 1960. His Second Find. 26 May.
  • <S3> Thesis: Healy, F. 1978. The Neolithic in Norfolk.
  • <S4> Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Neolithic. Aylsham.
  • <S5> Photograph: [unknown]. 1960. Photograph of Richard Dennis with the Neolithic axeheads he found at Woodgate Farm in 1959 and 1960.
  • FLAKE (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • RETOUCHED BLADE (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • POLISHED AXEHEAD (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Unknown date)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Unknown date)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Unknown date)
  • WASTE (Unknown date)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • MOUNT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)
  • BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUTTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUTTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUTTON (Post Medieval to Late 20th Century - 1540 AD to 2000 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • MOUNT (Post Medieval to Late 20th Century - 1540 AD to 2000 AD)
  • MOUNT (Post Medieval to Late 20th Century - 1540 AD to 2000 AD)
  • PALM GUARD (Post Medieval to Late 20th Century - 1540 AD to 2000 AD)
  • SEAL (Post Medieval to Late 20th Century - 1540 AD to 2000 AD)
  • SPINDLE WHORL (Post Medieval to Late 20th Century - 1540 AD to 2000 AD)
  • SPOON (18th Century to Late 20th Century - 1701 AD to 2000 AD)
  • BUTTON (19th Century to Late 20th Century - 1801 AD to 2000 AD)
  • BUTTON (19th Century to Late 20th Century - 1801 AD to 2000 AD)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Dec 22 2025 9:35PM

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