Record Details
| NHER Number: | 6601 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Palaeolithic flint handaxe and undated finds and features |
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Summary
In 1898 a Palaeolithic flint handaxe was found during the excavation of a well in the grounds of Gresham School House. Some years later, an undated hearth, a cobbled pavement, pottery fragments and metal working debris were uncovered.
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TG 1676 3846 |
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| Map Sheet: | TG13NE |
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| Parish: | GRESHAM, NORTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK |
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Full description
1898. Stray Find.
Found by J. Cox (headmaster of Gresham School) while sinking a well at the School House, in a vein of clay about 6ft [1.8m] below the surface:
1 Palaeolithic "Group III" flint handaxe. Subsequently acquired by F. H. Barclay (his Collection No. 17) and later donated to the Norwich Castle Museum (Cox-Barclay Collection NWHCM : 1935.57; not individually accessioned).
Information from (S1).
This handaxe was exhibited by Cox at a meeting of the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia on 31 January 1910 (S2). The provenance given by (S1) is that which was reported in (S2). It was subsequently noted in (S3). This object and the others found by Cox around the same time are the reason that Gresham is listed in (S9) as a location that had produced "Palaeolithic drift" implements prior to 1919.
This handaxe is listed in (S4) and is described on (S5) and in (S6) as being in a slightly rolled and stained condition. It is also noted in (S7) and (S8), although no additional information is given.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 20 June 2014.
Pre 1920. Casual Observation.
'Some years before 1920' in the same garden, during alterations, a hearth was found about 22.8cm (9 inches) below the modern surface. Also found was a 'pavement' 3m (10 feet) in diameter, composed of rounded flints embedded in clay. Above these, a layer of reddish brown ash 5cm (2 inches) deep.
Within a few yards of the hearth, lumps of slag and numerous sherds of coarse pottery were lying about, with bones in an advanced state of decomposition. Information from (S10) and (S11).
Grid reference located by E. Rose (NAU), 17 March 1977.
E. Rose (NAU).
Monument Types
- FEATURE (Undated)
- FINDSPOT (Unknown date)
- HEARTH (Undated)
- METAL WORKING SITE (Undated)
- FINDSPOT (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic - 1000000 BC to 40001 BC)
Associated Finds
- METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Undated)
- POT (Undated)
- HANDAXE (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 40001 BC)
Protected Status - none
Sources and further reading
| --- | Map: Clarke, W.G.. Mss 126. |
| --- | Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. |
| --- | Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Miscellaneous. Gresham. |
| <S1> | Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Palaeolithic. |
| <S2> | Article in Serial: 1911. Summary of Proceedings. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia. Vol I Pt I (for 1909-1910) pp 109-121. p 118. |
| <S3> | Publication: Moir, J. Reid. 1927. The Antiquity of Man in East Anglia. p 65. |
| <S4> | Monograph: Roe, D. A. 1968. A Gazetteer of British Lower and Middle Palaeolithic Sites. CBA Research Report. No 8. p 232. |
| <S5> | Record Card: Wymer, J. J. Wymer Index Card - Palaeolithic. Gresham (School House). |
| <S6> | Publication: Wymer, J. J. 1985. Palaeolithic Sites of East Anglia. p 30. |
| <S7> | Unpublished Contractor Report: 1997. The English Rivers Palaeolithic Project. Regions 8 (East Anglian Rivers) and 11 (Trent Drainage). Wessex Archaeology. CR-2, No.7. |
| <S8> | Website: TERPS online database. Site 22482. |
| <S9> | 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. |
| <S10> | Article in Serial: 1920. Summary of Proceedings. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia. Vol III Pt II (for 1919-20) pp 315-322. pp 320-321. |
| <S11> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1920. Hut circles on Cromer-Holt ridge. 16 February. |
Related records - none
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