NHER 9580 (Find Spot record) - Mesolithic flint microlith

Site of former gravel pit (incorrectly marked as the site of Markshall Church on early O.S maps). Probably close to where a potentially Palaeolithic flint 'ovate' was found by H. B. Howard during the late 19th century (NHER 9776).

1909. Stray Find.
Found by F. N. Haward in gravel pit adjacent to Bridewell Meadow (9-12" [23-30cm] from the surface):
1 Mesolithic flint microlithic. This find is noted in (S1) and described in (S2) as a "...grey patinated microlith of Tardeoisian facies of [Clarke's] type D.I.b. iv". Information from (S3). Findspot marked in (S2).

According to (S2) this find was donated to the Norwich Castle Museum by W. G. Clarke, although its present whereabouts are not entirely clear. The accession number listed in (S2) (NWHCM : 1924.86) relates to a number of predominatly Mesolithic (or potentially Mesolithic) worked flints that were found in various parishes, including Mattishall, Hellesdon and Hockham. Although listed as donated by a G. H. Gurney it appears that these were all objects found by W. G. Clarke. Although this find is noted in (S4) this is only a reference to (S1) - the object itself was not located. A description of this object does however appear in (S5), suggesting that it was located by R. Jacobi (presumably in the collection listed).

1928. Excavation.
This pit is the most likely location of a minor excavation undertaken by J. E. Sainty in 1928. This excavation was part of a wider programme of work to investigate the Norwich Crag deposits and the potentially implementiferous gravels at their base.

According to a short note in (S6) this work took place in "…an open pit in a small knoll, below the 50-foot [15m] contour, overlooking the flood plain of the Yare". Although this excavation was previously recorded under NHER 9775, there is no evidence that a quarry of any kind was open at that location.

A trial hole was excavated in the floor of the pit to a depth of approximately 6' [18m], at which point the water table was encountered, preventing further work. The deposits exposed were alternate layers of sand and gravel. No artefacts were recovered.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 31 March 2014.