Record Details
| NHER Number: | 5711 |
|---|
| Type of record: | Find Spot |
|---|
| Name: | Palaeolithic flint handaxe |
|---|
Summary
At some time, most likely between 1907 and 1924, a Palaeolithic flint handaxe was recovered from near Fowl Mere. The exact location and circumstances of its discovery are not known, although there is some evidence to suggest it was found on the east side of the Mere.
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TL 8816 8961 |
|---|
| Map Sheet: | TL88NE |
|---|
| Parish: | WRETHAM, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK |
|---|
Full description
1907-1913. Stray Find.
Found by H. H. Halls at "Fowlmere":
1 Palaeolithic Acheulian flint handaxe. Donated to Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1924.83.49).
Information from (S1).
This find is listed in (S2) and described on (S3) and in (S4) as a cordate and slightly rolled handaxe. It is noted in (S4) that the condition of the object suggests it probably wasn't a surface find. Also listed in (S5) and (S6), although no additional information is given.
Published sources suggest that this object was probably found between 1907 and 1913. Wretham is listed in (S7) as a location that had produced at least one "Palaeolithic drift" implement between 1919 and the publication of an earlier list (S8) in 1907. H. H. Halls is listed as the finder so this is almost certainly a reference to this handaxe. Its date of discovery can be further refined as in 1913 W. G. Clarke had refered to Wretham as a location that had produced surface "drift implements" (S9).
The exact location of this find is by no means clear. The findspot is however described on (S3) as being on a military firing range; suggesting a location on the east side of the mere (within the bounds of NHER 53452). The record has been mapped on the basis of this note, although this should probably be treated with a degree of caution as the source of this information is not clear (it is unlikely the site had a military use at the time this object was found).
P. Watkin (HES), 24 April 2013.
Monument Types
- FINDSPOT (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic - 1000000 BC to 40001 BC)
Associated Finds
- HANDAXE (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 40001 BC)
Protected Status
Sources and further reading
| --- | Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. |
| <S1> | Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Palaeolithic. |
| <S2> | Monograph: Roe, D. A. 1968. A Gazetteer of British Lower and Middle Palaeolithic Sites. CBA Research Report. No 8. p 242. |
| <S3> | Record Card: Wymer, J. J. Wymer Index Card - Palaeolithic. Wretham (Fowlmere). |
| <S4> | Publication: Wymer, J. J. 1985. Palaeolithic Sites of East Anglia. p 107. |
| <S5> | Unpublished Contractor Report: 1996. The English Rivers Palaeolithic Project. Regions 9 (Great Ouse) and 12 (Yorkshire and the Lincolnshire Wolds). Wessex Archaeology. LLO-3, No.16. |
| <S6> | Website: TERPS online database. Site 22798. |
| <S7> | Article in Serial: Clarke, W. G. 1919. The Distribution of Flint and Bronze Implements in Norfolk. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia. Vol III Pt I (for 1918-19) pp 147-149. p 148. |
| <S8> | Article in Serial: Clarke, W. G. 1907. The Distribution of Flint and Bronze Implements in Norfolk. Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society. Vol VIII Pt III (for 1906-1907) pp 393-409. |
| <S9> | Article in Serial: Clarke, W. G. 1913. Norfolk Implements of Palaeolithic "Cave" Types. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia. Vol I Pt III (for 1912-13) pp 338-345. p 338. |
Related records - none
Find out more...