View a printer friendly version of this page

Record Details

NHER Number:31814
Type of record:Monument
Name:Site of Roman farmstead and multi-period finds

Summary

Geophysical surveys carried out by Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project (SHARP) between 2002 and 2006 identified a number of ditches in both the northern and southern parts of the field plus several large burnt anomalies. The latter were investigated by excavation in 2006, which revealed a series of Iron Age and Roman ditches. The Roman ditches may form part of an enclosure around a farmstead that was subdivided to include an area of industrial activity. This industrial zone contained two possible corn driers: the 4th century AD one containing the disturbed remains of a middle-aged man. It is thought that the body was placed in the corn drier in an attempt to dispose of the corpse. Extensive metal-detecting and fieldwalking between 1998 and 2018 also recovered Late Mesolithic/Early Neolithic and Late Neolithic/Early Bronze flint implements; Roman to medieval pottery sherds and Middle/Late Bronze Age and Iron Age to post-medieval coins and metal objects.

Images

  • Excavations by SHARP on the site of a Roman farm. © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service
  • Excavations by SHARP on the site of a Roman farm. © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service
  • A Roman corn drier containing the remains of a middle-aged man excavated by SHARP in Summer 2006. © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service
  • Iron Age Brooch from NHER 31814 © Norfolk County Council
  • Late Saxon disc brooch from NHER 31814 © Norfolk County Council
  • Late Saxon coin from NHER 31814 © Norfolk County Council
  • Drawing of a Middle Saxon/Late Saxon handle with a runic inscription from NHER 31814 © Norfolk County Council

Location

Grid Reference:Not displayed
Map Sheet:TF73NW
Parish:SEDGEFORD, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

[1].

1988 to 1989. Metal-detecting.
Six Roman coins. See list in file.
Four Roman greyware sherds.
Information from NCM enquiry form. Noted on rear of same form are the following:
Bronze Age or medieval bronze ring.
Medieval 11th century finger ring; this might also be Bronze Age.
16th century bronze buckle.
See (S1).
Identified by S. Margeson (NCM), 1 March 1989.
It is not certain that these items are from the same site.
Original form made out by W. Milligan (NCM), 1 March 1989, sent to NLA April 1999.
E. Rose (NLA), 27 April 1999.

1996. Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project. Fieldwalking and metal-detecting.
A high density of finds were recorded.
Worked flints.
Roman sherds, brooch.
Scatter of possible Early Saxon pot.
Middle Saxon Ipswich ware widely distributed alongside northern and western flanks.
Many Late Saxon sherds.
Late Saxon disc brooch.
Late Saxon iron shears.
'Some coins' (apparently Late Saxon it appears).
Medieval bone ring.
Medieval pot (including unglazed Grimston) and tile.
See (S2).
M. Dennis (NLA), 7 August 2006.

2001. Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project. Excavation. Chalk Pit Evaluation.
Small excavation concluded that although archaeological features were present they were too deep, too unclear and devoid of dateable material to provide a useful research focus. The pipe trench (NHER 1079) was relocated and partially excavated.
See (S3) and (S4).
M. Dennis (NLA), 11 August 2006.

Easter 2002. Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project. Magnetometer Survey.
Several positive linear features, probably ditches or gullies. Some of these appear to cross each other indicating they are not all contemporary. One east to west ditch appears to be a boundary feature.
See (S5) and (S6).
M. Dennis (NLA), 11 August 2006.

2005. Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project. Magnetometer and Resistivity Survey.
See (S7).
M. Dennis (NLA), 21 August 2006.

Easter 2006. Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project. Magnetometer and Resistivity Survey.
M. Dennis (NLA), 24 August 2006.

2006. Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project. Excavation. Roman Project.
Excavation of a large area to the south of the field to evaluate previous magnetometry and resistivity results. Series of Iron Age and Roman ditches excavated. Earlier Iron Age ditches cut by later Roman ditches that may form part of an enclosure around a farmstead. The enclosure is sub-divided into a separate 'zone' that contains industrial features including two possible corn driers. These were probably not in use at the same time. Within the oven of the later 4th century AD corn drier the disturbed remains of a male, middle-aged man were discovered. It is thought the body was placed within the corn drier in an attempt to dispose of the corpse.
See (S8).
M. Dennis (NLA), 24 August 2006.

January-February 2007. Metal-detecting.
Three Roman coins.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 7 March 2007.

April 2007. Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project. Geophysical Survey. Magnetometry.
Survey of northern end of field. Details awaited.
M. Dennis (NLA), 18 April 2007.

April-May 2007. Metal-detecting.
One Iron Age, four Roman and one medieval coin.
See lists in file.

August-September 2007. Metal-detecting.
One Iron Age and one Roman coin.
Iron Age/Roman brooch.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 5 October 2007.

September-October 2007. Metal-detecting.
1 ?Late Mesolithic/Early Neolithic flint blade.
1 Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age 'thumbnail' flint scraper.
1 Roman coin, 1 brooch and 1 unidentified copper alloy object, possibly a toilet or medical implement (S9).
1 post-medieval ring.
Flints identified by P. Robins (NCM), coins by A. Marsden (NCM) and other objects by S. Ashley (NLA). See list and descriptions in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 8 November 2007. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 22 December 2013.

April-May 2008. Metal-detecting.
Middle Saxon/Late Saxon hooked tag, medieval coin and strap end.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 2 June 2008.

May-June 2008. Metal-detecting.
Fragmentary penny of Stephen.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 11 July 2008.

January-February 2009. Metal-detecting.
Medieval furniture or book fitting and a possible chape or ferrule, post-medieval coin.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 3 March 2009.

February-March 2009. Metal-detecting.
One Iron Age, 16 Roman, one medieval and one post-medieval coin.
Iron Age brooch (S10), Roman brooch, Late Saxon stirrup mount, medieval strap end, medieval/post-medieval strap hook and post-medieval buckle frame and furniture fitting.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 9 April 2009.

March-April 2009. Metal-detecting.
Five Roman and one medieval coin.
Iron Age/Roman brooch, Early Saxon girdle hanger, Late Saxon disc brooch (S11), medieval thimble and post-medieval jetton.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 2 May 2009.

May-June 2010. Metal-detecting.
Four Roman coins.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 8 July 2010.

February-March 2011. Metal-detecting.
Eight Roman and one medieval coin, Romano-British brooches and medieval buckle.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (HES), 6 April 2011.

August-September 2011. Metal-detecting.
Penny of Edward the Confessor.
See lists in file.
A. Marsden (HES), 5 October 2011.

May-June 2012. Metal-detecting. [4].
1 Iron Age coin.
2 Roman coins.
Middle Saxon pin.
1 medieval coin and a strap loop.
1 post-medieval jetton.
See lists in file and PAS records.
A. Rogerson (HES), 4 July 2012. Amended 9 April 2015.

Before March 2013. Metal-detecting. [2].
10 Roman coins.
Medieval strap-end.
Information from PAS import.
A. Beckham (HES), 4 April 2013.

April-May 2014. Metal-detecting. [3].
1 Iron Age coin.
4 Roman coins and 1 pottery sherd.
Information from PAS import.
A. Beckham (HES), 3 July 2014.

February 2017. Metal-detecting. [4].
1 Roman coin.
Middle/Late Saxon unidentified runic object, possibly a handle from an implement (S14).
The inscription on the runic object reads the Old English masculine personal name B?ernferþ. The second character is an unparalleled rune in the Old English Runes Corpus. It could represent a number of different characters, most likely a vowel, and would be dependant on the dialect used for spelling the name.
Information from PAS import.
The item was submitted for consideration as possible Treasure (Ref 2017T168), but X-ray flourescence analysis revealed no precious metal content.
See Unpublished Report (S12) and (S13) and Off-print (S15).
A. Beckham (HES), 14 June 2017. Amended E. McDonald (HES), 1 January 2018.

February-March 2017. Metal-detecting. [5].
Middle/Late Bronze Age gold unidentified object in the form of a length of oval-sectioned red. Possibly an ingot.
4 Late Iron Age coins.
Late Iron Age/Roman brooch.
3 Roman coins.
Middle Saxon/Late Saxon hooked tag.
9 medieval coins and a buckle.
Medieval/post-medieval weight.
2 post-medieval coins, a harness mount and a dress hook.
Information from PAS import.
The Middle/Late Bronze Age gold unidentified object was disclaimed as Treasure (Ref: 2017 T252) and returned to the finder.
E. McDonald (HES), 3 April 2017. Amended by E. McDonald (HES), 1 July 2019.

March-April 2017. Metal-detecting. [6].
3 Roman coins.
Information from PAS import.
E. McDonald (HES), 4 May 2017.

July-September 2017. Metal-detecting. [7].
2 Roman coins.
1 medieval coin.
Information from PAS import.
E. McDonald (HES), 4 October 2017.

March-April 2018. Metal-detecting. [8].
Late Iron Age/Roman Colchester brooch fragment.
2 Roman coins.
1 medieval coin.
Information from PAS import.
E. McDonald (HES), 2 July 2018.

July-September 2018. Metal-detecting. [9].
6 Roman coins and a steelyard weight.
Medieval buckle.
1 post-medieval token, harness mounts, and a dress hook.
Information from PAS import.
E. McDonald (HES), 2 October 2018.

Monument Types

  • FINDSPOT (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 7000 BC to 3001 BC)
  • FINDSPOT (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • FINDSPOT (Middle Bronze Age to Late Bronze Age - 1600 BC to 701 BC)
  • DITCH (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • FARMSTEAD (Early Iron Age to Roman - 800 BC to 409 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • PIT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC to 409 AD)
  • CORN DRYING OVEN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • DITCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Middle Saxon to Late Saxon - 651 AD to 1065 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

  • LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • BLADE (Late Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 7000 BC? to 3001 BC)
  • THUMB NAIL SCRAPER (Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age - 3000 BC to 1501 BC)
  • FINGER RING (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • RING (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Middle Bronze Age to Late Bronze Age - 1500 BC to 750 BC)
  • BROOCH (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • COIN (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • COIN (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
  • COIN (Late Iron Age - 50 BC to 20 BC)
  • COIN (Late Iron Age - 30 BC to 10 BC)
  • COIN (Late Iron Age - 25 BC to 10 AD)
  • COIN (Late Iron Age - 20 BC to 5 BC)
  • COIN (Late Iron Age - 10 BC to 42 AD)
  • COIN (Late Iron Age - 10 BC to 42 AD)
  • COIN (Late Iron Age - 10 AD to 42 AD)
  • BROOCH (Late Iron Age to Roman - 20 AD to 75 AD)
  • BROOCH (Late Iron Age to Roman - 20 AD to 80 AD)
  • AESICA BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BROOCH (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)
  • HUMAN REMAINS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • MEDICAL IMPLEMENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • STEELYARD WEIGHT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • TRUMPET BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 69 AD to 79 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 69 AD to 81 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 81 AD to 96 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 96 AD to 97 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 100 AD to 125 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 138 AD to 161 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 141 AD to 141 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 154 AD to 155 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 211 AD to 211 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 226 AD to 228 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 260 AD to 268 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 260 AD to 268 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 269 AD to 271 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 269 AD to 271 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 269 AD to 271 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 269 AD to 271 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 270 AD to 270 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 275 AD to 402 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 286 AD to 293 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 293 AD to 296 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 293 AD to 296 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 310 AD to 312 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 310 AD to 313 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 314 AD to 314 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 319 AD to 320 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 319 AD to 320 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 320 AD to 321 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 320 AD to 324 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 321 AD to 323 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 322 AD to 323 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 325 AD to 330 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 330 AD to 335 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 330 AD to 335 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 330 AD to 335 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 330 AD to 348 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 335 AD to 341 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 335 AD to 348 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 337 AD to 341 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 341 AD to 348 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 341 AD to 348 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 350 AD to 351 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 353 AD to 364 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 353 AD to 364 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 355 AD to 361 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 364 AD to 378 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 364 AD to 378 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 364 AD to 400 AD)
  • GIRDLE HANGER (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • POT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • HOOKED TAG (Middle Saxon to Late Saxon - 651 AD to 1065 AD)
  • PIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • POT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • HOOKED TAG (Middle Saxon to Medieval - 700 AD to 1100 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Middle Saxon to Late Saxon - 700 AD to 1000 AD)
  • BROOCH (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • COIN (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • SHEARS (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • STIRRUP (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • COIN (Late Saxon - 1050 AD to 1051 AD)
  • BOOK FITTING (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)
  • FERRULE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • RING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SCABBARD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP END (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • THIMBLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • TILE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1207 AD to 1210 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1207 AD to 1216 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1251 AD to 1272 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1251 AD to 1272 AD)
  • HARNESS MOUNT (Medieval - 1270 AD to 1400 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1333 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1307 AD to 1309 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1335 AD to 1343 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1500 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1500 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1351 AD to 1352 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1351 AD to 1377 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1357 AD to 1367 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1485 AD to 1500 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval to 16th Century - 1497 AD to 1537 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval to 16th Century - 1497 AD to 1537 AD)
  • WEIGHT (Medieval to 18th Century - 1500 AD to 1800 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN WEIGHT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • JETTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • RING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • DRESS HOOK (16th Century to 17th Century - 1550 AD to 1650 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1570 AD to 1579 AD)
  • DRESS FASTENER (DRESS) (16th Century to 17th Century - 1570 AD to 1700 AD)
  • JETTON (16th Century to 17th Century - 1586 AD to 1635 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1594 AD to 1594 AD)
  • HARNESS MOUNT (16th Century to 17th Century - 1600 AD to 1700 AD)
  • HARNESS MOUNT (16th Century to 17th Century - 1600 AD to 1700 AD)
  • TOKEN (17th Century - 1667 AD to 1670 AD)

Protected Status

  • SHINE

Sources and further reading

---Serial: 1996. The Sedgeford Project.. Report No 1.
---Photograph: I & RS. Digital finds image.
---Archive: Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project Archive.
---Archive: Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project Folder.
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2005. Exciting discovery at dig. 5 August.
<S1>Photograph: NCC Find Identification and Recording Service. c. 1975-2000. HES Find Polaroid Collection. HES Find Polaroid Collection. polaroid. black and white.
<S2>Unpublished Document: Various. 1997. Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project. The Report. No 1. 1996.. February.
<S3>Unpublished Document: Davies, G. and Hoggett, R. (ed.). 2002. Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project Interim Report 2001.
<S4>Article in Serial: Cabot, S., Davies, G. and Hoggett, R. 2002. Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project 2001: Sixth Interim Report. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLIV Pt I pp 131-133.
<S5>Article in Serial: Cabot, S. 2003. Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project: Interim Report 2002. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLIV Pt II pp 354-356.
<S6>Monograph: Cabot, S. (ed.). 2003. Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project Interim Report 2002..
<S7>Unpublished Document: Dodd, M. and Halifax, K. (eds.). 2006. Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project Annual Report 2005..
<S8>Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2006. [Articles on a skeleton found in a corn-drying oven in Sedgeford ].
<S9>Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2007. Drawing of a Roman unidentified object possible medical or toilet implement. Find Illustration. film. 2:1.
<S10>Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2009. Drawing of an Iron Age continental brooch.. Find Illustration. Film. 2:1.
<S11>Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2009. Drawing of a Late Saxon cast copper alloy disc brooch.. Find Illustration. Film. 2:1.
<S12>Unpublished Report: Waxenberger, G.. 2017. RuneS 'Runic Writing in the Germanic Languages'.
<S13>Unpublished Report: Hines, J.. 2017. The Sedgeford Inscription:Thoughts on Rune No. 2.
<S14>Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2018. Drawing of a Middle Saxon/Late Saxon handle. Find Illustration. Film. 2:1.
<S15>Article in Serial: Hines, J.. 2019. Two Personal Names in Recently Found Anglo-Saxon Runic Inscriptions: Sedgeford (Norfolk) and Elsted (West Sussex). Anglia. Journal of English Philology. Volume 137, Issue 2.

Related records

1079Parent of: Middle/Late Saxon settlement in Chalk Pit Field and multi-period finds (Monument)
24899Parent of: Multi-period finds (Find Spot)
1604Parent of: Multi-period finds from Chalk Pit Field (Find Spot)

Find out more...

Norfolk County Council logo Heritage Lottery Fund logo

Powered by HBSMR-web and the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd, and mojoPortal CMS
© 2007 - 2024 Norfolk Historic Environment Service