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Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Record Details

NHER Number:	30600
Type of record:	Monument
Name:	Roman settlement, multi-period finds

Summary

This site has been extensively metal detected for over ten years and a large number of objects from the Palaeolithic to the post medieval period have been recovered. These include a Neolithic axehead, a Bronze Age spearhead, Iron Age and Roman brooches and Iron Age coins. A large number of Roman coins, fittings, and personal ornaments have been recovered, leading to the conclusion that a Roman period settlement was present on this site. There have also been a number of objects recovered from the Early Saxon period, as well as five Middle Saxon sceattas recovered from the site.

Images

Location

Grid Reference:	Not displayed
Map Sheet:	TF91NW
Parish:	BEETLEY, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK
	STANFIELD, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK

Full description

Pre March 1994. Metal-detecting.
General finds from two fields on either side of road:
14 Roman coins.
1 ?Roman wedge-shaped strap-end.
1 medieval drop-shaped bell (for people not animals).
1 late medieval/post-medieval English circular uniface coin weight (1464-1600 AD).
See file for full descriptions.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 13 August 2013.

March-April 1994. Metal-detecting.
Various metal objects:
1 Iron Age 'Iceni' type silver coin.
2 Roman coins.
2 Roman brooches; 1 Colchester-type and 1 Dolphin-type (both 1st century AD).
1 Roman dolphin head from buckle (Late Roman 'soldiers/settlers' type).
1 Roman pin-head.
1 Roman cast figurine in form of duck.
1 Early Saxon cruciform brooch top knob.
1 ?Late Saxon lead button.
1 late medieval belt stiffener.
2 medieval gilded buckle fragments (inscribed with the initials DI).
2 early post-medieval thimbles.
See file for full descriptions.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 13 August 2013.

April 1994. Metal-detecting
Various metal objects:
41 Roman coins. Most from west part of north field.
5 Roman brooches including 1 hinge-headed type (1st-2nd century), 1 Aesica with fantail foot (1st century), 2 Dolphin type (1st century) and 1 headstud.
1 medieval ampulla.
2 medieval coins

See file for full descriptions.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 13 August 2013.

May 1994. Metal detecting.
Several metal objects:
1 Roman spoon fragment.
1 Roman dolphin brooch (1st century AD).
1 medieval harness pendant.
2 medieval mounts, both belt fittings.
1 post-medieval token.
See file for full descriptions.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 13 August 2013.

24 May 1994. Fieldwalking.
Very rapid walk over both fields. Moderate conditions with young sugar beet. In the northern field a concentration of Roman pottery c. 1.5 ha in area, coincident with one of several iron slag fragments found. This concentration is also the area in which most of the Roman coins had been found. Roman site appears to be on a gentle north-facing slope, its eastern boundary coinciding with the parish boundary that crosses the field. Few finds over rest of field. Pottery recovered included:
97 Roman sherds; 1 unusual oxidised (?once red-slipped) rim with circular spiral stamps, 1 imitation samian cup (Oxfordshire?), 3 shell-gritted ware and 92 greyware (including 1 Iceni rusticated and 1 bead and flange bowl rim).
12 medieval sherds including 8 unglazed and 4 glazed Grimston.
2 post-medieval sherds.
The southern field was only fleetingly examined. No pottery concentration was noted, although a vague one of worked flints was present in the north-west corner centred on [1]. The flints recovered included:
1 ?Palaeolithic bifacially worked crescentic piece. Donated to Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1998.74.4).
1 ?Neolithic piece - probably the tip of a small unfinished flaked axe.
8 undatable piece including 1 two-platform core, 3 retouched flakes, 3 unmodified flakes and 1 utilised blade fragment. Several with slight patination.
A pot-boiler (burnt flint) concentration was also noted at approximately [2], covering an area of c. 30m in diameter and associated with dark soil. The small amount of pottery recovered included:
2 Roman sherds, both greyware
21 medieval sherds, including 16 unglazed and 5 glazed Grimston.
3 post-medieval sherds.
See file for full descriptions.
These discoveries were reported in (S6). The potentially Palaeolithic object is also noted on (S7).
A. Rogerson (NLA), May and June 1994. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 13 August 2013.

October - November 1994. Metal detecting. [2].
Roman coins, Middle Saxon, medieval and post medieval coins, post medieval jetton.
Roman brooch and mount.
Medieval and post medieval metalwork.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 8 December 1994.

July - August 1995. Metal detecting.
Twenty-nine Roman coins.
One Middle Saxon coin.
Medieval coin weight.
Roman brooch, lock, nail cleaner.
See lists in file.
Identified by J. Davies (NCM) and D. Gurney (NLA).
A. Rogerson (NLA), 30 August 1995.

August - September 1995. Metal detecting.
Roman and medieval coins.
Late Bronze Age spearhead, (S3).
Medieval and post medieval metalwork.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 8 October 1995.

September - October 1995. Metal detecting in four areas.
Roman coins.
Post medieval coin and jettons.
Roman, medieval, post medieval metal finds.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 1 November 1995.

October - November 1995. Metal detecting north of road.
Eighteen Roman and three post medieval coins.
Late Saxon stud.
Medieval and post medieval metal finds.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 28 November 1995.

November - December 1995. Metal detecting. South field.
Late medieval buckle frame.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 8 January 1996.

1996 and January 1997. Metal detecting.
Roman coins and brooch.
Early Saxon/Middle Saxon strap loop.
Late Saxon strap end.
Medieval strap end.
Details in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 28 February 1997.

1996. Metal detecting.
Roman brooch, (S4).
Roman and post medieval coins.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), March 1997.

February 1997. Metal detecting. North of road.
Six Roman coins.
Roman lock pin.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 8 April 1997.

March 1997. Metal detecting. North of road, north of pit, strip along west edge.
Roman coin and brooches.
Medieval buckle.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 2 May 1997.

1998. Metal detecting. Field north of road.
Roman and post medieval coins
Post medieval jetton
Roman, ?Early Saxon, medieval post medieval and undated metal finds.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 29 December 1998.

March 1999. Metal detecting.
Four Roman (including three, five and six) coins and one Middle Saxon coin (no 7).
See (S1) and lists in file.
Val Fryer identified:
No 4. Cast copper alloy double-looped buckle frame, both loops oval. Slight angles at both ends of loops. Late 15th/16th century.
No 10. Bi-convex section cast copper alloy spur arm with figure of eight terminal buckle attachment. Slightly curved longitudally. Poss traces of white metal coating. Late 14th-15th century.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 1 September 1999.

Autumn 1999. Metal detecting.
Three Roman coins.
Medieval/post medieval metal finds.
Roman and medieval sherds.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 20 December 1999.

January 2000. Metal detecting. North of road.
Thirteen Roman and one medieval coin.
Medieval and post medieval metal finds.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 7 March 2000.

Thirty-seven Roman coins.
Medieval jettons.
Post medieval token.
Roman metal finds.
Post medieval harness mount.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 18 July 2000.

Late 2000. Metal detecting.
Twelve Roman and one Middle Saxon coin.
Roman, medieval, post medieval and undated metal finds.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 6 February 2001.

January - February 2001. Metal detecting.
Six Roman coins.
Two post medieval coins.
Roman and post medieval metal finds.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 4 March 2001.

Before 16 May 2001. Metal detecting.
Two Roman coins.
One post medieval coin.
Roman scabbard chape, (S5).
Medieval seal matrix.
Early post medieval buckle.
See lists and map in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 23 May 2001.

Before 1 June 2001. Metal detecting.
Roman bracelet.
Medieval coins.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 2 July 2001.

October 2001. Metal detecting.
Middle Saxon coin.
See list in file.
This is the third sceat found by this finder (see (S1)) and the fifth found on this site.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 19 December 2001.

Before 14 February 2002. Metal detecting.
Late Saxon stirrup strap mount.
Medieval and post medieval metal finds.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 12 March 2002.

Before 14 March 2002. Metal detecting.
Eleven Roman coins.
Two medieval coins.
Post medieval coin.
?Roman, medieval, post medieval and undatable metal finds.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 19 April 2002.

Before 28 May 2002. Metal detecting.
Nine more Roman coins.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 17 July 2002.

Before 19 April 2002. Metal detecting.
Roman bucket escutcheon and post medieval toy.
See descriptions in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 30 May 2002.

Before 14 January 2003. Metal detecting.
Two Roman coins.
Roman brooch and key.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 11 February 2003.

January - February 2003. Metal detecting. In field south of east to west road.
Post medieval coin.
Medieval and post medieval metal objects.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 14 March 2003.

Before 14 March 2003. Metal detecting.
In north field.
Three Roman coins.
Post medieval jetton.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 16 April 2003.

March - April 2003. Metal detecting.
Two Iron Age, twelve Roman, one medieval and one post medieval coin.
Early Saxon brooch.
Medieval and post medieval metal objects.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 15 May 2003.

Before 4 December 2003. Metal detecting.
Eight Roman, two medieval and four post medieval coins.
Iron Age/Roman, Early Saxon, Middle Saxon/Late Saxon, medieval and post medieval metal objects.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 26 January 2004.

Before 7 April 2004. Metal detecting.
Twenty-four Roman, one medieval and one post medieval coins.
Medieval, post medieval and undatable metal objects.
See lists and (S2).
A. Rogerson (NLA), 24 May 2004.

March - April 2005. Metal detecting.
Eight Roman coins.
Medieval, post medieval and undated metal objects.
Post medieval jetton and two tokens.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 9 May 2005.

April - May 2005. Metal detecting.
Roman, medieval and post medieval sherds.
Spindle whorl made from Roman sherd.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 11 June 2005.

Before 1 April 2006. Metal detecting in northern field.
Two Roman coins and two post medieval cloth seals.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 26 September 2006.

Before 17 February 2007.
One Iron Age and two Roman coins.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 4 April 2007.

9 March 2009. Fieldwalking.
Prehistoric worked flints, Iron Age, Roman, medieval & post-medieval sherds,
see list & map in file
H. White (NLA), 10 April 2009

Monument Types

FINDSPOT (Unknown date)
BURNT MOUND (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
FINDSPOT (Palaeolithic - 1000000 BC? to 10001 BC?)
FINDSPOT (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
FINDSPOT (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
FINDSPOT (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
FINDSPOT (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
FINDSPOT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
SETTLEMENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
FINDSPOT (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
FINDSPOT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
FINDSPOT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

CASTING WASTE (Unknown date)
METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Undated)
RING (Undated)
STUD (Undated)
UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Undated)
WEIGHT (Unknown date)
BLADE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
CORE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
FLAKE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Lower Palaeolithic to Upper Palaeolithic - 500000 BC? to 10001 BC?)
RETOUCHED FLAKE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
FLAKE (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
FLAKED AXEHEAD (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
SCRAPER (TOOL) (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
SPEAR (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
BROOCH (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
COIN (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
POT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
BUCKET (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
COSMETIC PESTLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
DRESS COMPONENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
FIGURINE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
FINGER RING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
FURNITURE FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
FURNITURE FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
LOCKING MECHANISM (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
PERSONAL ORNAMENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
PIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
PIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
SCABBARD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
SPINDLE WHORL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
SPOON (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
SPOON (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
STRAP FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
STRAP FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
STRAP FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
STUD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
TOILET ARTICLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
BOW BROOCH (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
BROOCH (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
POT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
STRAP FITTING (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
COIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
COIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
STRAP END (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
STRAP FITTING (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
BUTTON (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
STIRRUP (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
STRAP END (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
STRAP FITTING (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
STUD (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
AMPULLA (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
ANNULAR BROOCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BELL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BOOK FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BOX (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BROOCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BROOCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
COIN WEIGHT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
COIN WEIGHT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
DRESS COMPONENT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
FINGER RING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
FURNITURE FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
HARNESS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
HARNESS PENDANT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
HARNESS PENDANT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
JETTON (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
KEY (LOCKING) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
RING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
RING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
SEAL MATRIX (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
SPUR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
STUD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
VESSEL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
VESSEL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BOOK FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
BOOK FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
BUTTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
CLOTH SEAL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
COIN WEIGHT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
FINGER RING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
FURNITURE FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
HARNESS FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
HARNESS FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
JETTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
KNIFE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
RING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
ROWEL SPUR (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
STRAP FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
STRAP FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
THIMBLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
TOKEN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
TOKEN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
TOKEN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
TOY (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
WEIGHT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
WEIGHT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status - none

Sources and further reading

---	Photograph: NLA. Finds Photograph.
---	Monograph: Ashley, S. 2002. Medieval Armorial Horse Furniture in Norfolk. East Anglian Archaeology. No 101. p 49.
---	Unpublished Document: Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 2001. Treasure Annual Report 2000. p 70; No 121.
---	Photograph: JHX 26-28, Romano British dolphin brooch..
---	Photograph: 2004. KVB 9-10, Middle/Late Saxon small long brooch..
---	Photograph: 2002. KTE 29-30, Late Saxon stirrup mount..
---	Photograph: 2003. KTR 15-16, Iron Age coin..
---	Photograph: 2003. KTM 17-18, Iron Age coin..
---	Photograph: 1995. LCN 3-4, Early/Middle Saxon coin..
---	Photograph: 1994. LDM 9-10, Early Saxon sceat..
---	Photograph: 1994. LDP 1-2, Romano British/Early Saxon brooch fragment..
---	Photograph: 1994. LDP 3-4, Romano British buckle..
---	Photograph: 1994. LDP 5-6, Romano British duck figurine..
---	Photograph: 1994. LDP 7-10, Iron Age iceni coin..
---	Secondary File: Secondary File.
<S1>	Map: Finder's Map..
<S2>	Photograph: I & RS. Digital finds image.
<S3>	Illustration: Rogerson, A.. 1995. Drawing of a Late Bronze Age spearhead.. Film. 1:1.
<S4>	Illustration: White, S.. 1997. Drawing of a Roman dolphin brooch.. Film. 2:1.
<S5>	Illustration: Hoyle, M.. 2001. Drawing of a Roman pelta-shaped copper alloy sword scabbard.. Film. 2:1.
<S6>	Article in Serial: Gurney, D. (ed.). 1995. Archaeological Finds in Norfolk 1994. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLII Pt II pp 221-229. p 221.
<S7>	Record Card: Wymer, J. J. Wymer Index Card - Palaeolithic. Beetley/Stanfield.