Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Location

Full description

July 2004. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site. From Context 1.
Investigations revealed a small quantity of prehistoric worked flint and Roman artefacts. The first evidence for occupation appears to date from the Middle Saxon period, and comprises postholes and gullies. These are undated, but are likely to date to the Middle Saxon period, given their similarity to features recorded on an adjacent site. Boundary ditches were constructed and the area also served as a graveyard: one intact west-east aligned inhumation and other disturbed human remains were recorded, suggesting this is the site of a Middle Saxon cemetery. Occupation continued into the Late Saxon period, but appears to have terminated abruptly. A small quantity of medieval material may imply that this area was given over to agriculture at this time. Post medieval artefacts were more abundant, and probably reflect the expansion of the village, and habitation moving closer to the area of investigation.
See report (S1) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S2).
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2006.617).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 25 May 2007. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 2 July 2015 and 5 May 2019.

March 2005. Excavation.
From context 200.
Further excavation revealed Anglo-Saxon activity. The Middle Saxon period was represented by post-hole buildings and pits within a double-ditched enclosure and an adjacent cemetery (nine burials). Late Saxon occupation was more widely spread, and included post-hole structures, pits and ditches. The character and status of the settlement is uncertain, although animal and cereal farming are evidenced and finds include shears, querns, loomweights and animal bone.
Report awaited. The results of this work are summarised in (S3).
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.99).
D. Holburn (HES), 26 September 2011. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 2 July 2015 and 5 May 2019.

Monument Types

• DITCH (Unknown date)
• GULLY (Unknown date)
• PIT (Unknown date)
• POST HOLE (Unknown date)
• FINDSPOT (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Late Neolithic - 3000 BC to 2351 BC)
• FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• DITCH (Middle Saxon to Late Saxon - 651 AD to 1065 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Middle Saxon to Late Saxon - 651 AD to 1065 AD)
• INHUMATION (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• INHUMATION CEMETERY (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• PIT (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

• BLADE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
• LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Late Neolithic - 3000 BC to 2351 BC)
• TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• ANIMAL REMAINS (Middle Saxon to Late Saxon - 651 AD to 1065 AD)
• OYSTER SHELL (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• POT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
• POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
• POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• JETTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• RING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• TILE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status - none

Sources and further reading

Related records

Find out more...

• Parish Summary: Whissonsett (Parish Summary)