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Record Details

NHER Number:9724
Type of record:Monument
Name:Medieval churchyard of St Mary Swainsthorpe, Prehistoric, Roman to post medieval objects

Summary

This is the site of a medieval churchyard, known to have been largely destroyed in the Reformation. Metal detecting on this site has recovered a number of objects from the prehistoric to the post medieval periods. These include Neolithic flints, a Roman brooch, coins and cosmetic spoon, as well as a number of Early, Middle and Late Saxon objects. It is possible that there was a Middle to Late Saxon settlement within or near the vicinity of this site. An Arabic dirham coin and a silver seal matrix of Harvey, the rector of Great Swainsthorpe, were also recovered.

Images

  • An Early Saxon small-long brooch from Swainsthorpe. © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service

Location

Grid Reference:Not displayed
Map Sheet:TG20SW
Parish:SWAINSTHORPE, SOUTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

1948.
Adult female skull ploughed up in field west of site of St Mary's Church. (See NHER 9725. E. Rose.)
Probably from this medieval churchyard.
Seen by R.R. Clarke.
(Destroyed at Reformation. E. Rose.).
R.R. Clarke (NCM).

November 1994. In area on map.
Early Saxon small-long brooch, semi-circular head plate with three ribbed knobs and double-lug on reverse with traces of iron spring/pin. None of bow is present, break not particularly old. Inspired by radiate brooches (A. Rogerson). Photograph and drawing in file.
?Early Saxon bossed mount, with transverse mouldings flanking the boss (which has hollow underside) and 'trefoil' terminal at one end, other broken. Photograph (S1).
Tiny leaf-shaped tag end, split. Very stylised animal head on one side. Length 16mm. ?Middle Saxon. Photograph (S1).
Identified by S. Margeson (NCM).
A. Rogerson (NLA), 9 December 1994.

October/November 1995. Metal detector finds.
Prehistoric and Neolithic flints.
Roman and medieval coins.
Middle Saxon, Late Saxon, medieval metal finds.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 27 November 1995.

January/February 1996. Metal detector finds.
Two medieval coins, two post medieval jettons.
See list in file.
Identified by J. Davies (NCM).
Post medieval finger ring, incised transverse lines and zones of ?punched annulets.
Fragment of medieval finger ring, empty oval setting.
16th century hooked tag, openwork decoration, rectangular loop. As Norwich Households Fig 8 (S2).
Identified by A. Rogerson (NLA).
Dolphin brooch, hinged. Pin and lower bow etc missing. Grooved bow. Mid 1st century AD.
Identified by D. Gurney (NLA).
A. Rogerson (NLA), 11 March 1996.

October 1997 or earlier. Metal detecting.
Roman cosmetic scoop.
Two Middle Saxon/Late Saxon dress hooks.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson, 8 July 1999.

October 2002. Metal-detecting.
1 medieval silver seal matrix (inscription: 'Harvey rector of the church of Swainsthorpe Magna').
Identified by S. Ashley (NLA). See description in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 25 November 2002.
Updated by J. Page (HES), 11 March 2014.

March/April 2004. Metal detecting.
Arabic dirham and groat of Mary.
See list and scanned images in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 17 May 2004.

Fieldwalking 2008. Caistor Research Project. Site extended - previous extent [1]
Prehistoric worked flints; Romano British, Middle Saxon, Medieval and Post-Medieval sherds; Romano British tile; Undatable iron slag.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 22 September 2008.

Monument Types

  • FINDSPOT (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • SETTLEMENT? (Middle Saxon to Late Saxon - 651 AD to 1065 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • CHURCHYARD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Unknown date)
  • LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • BLADE (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FLAKE (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
  • LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COSMETIC SPOON (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • ROOF TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • PERSONAL ORNAMENT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • BROOCH (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • DRESS COMPONENT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • DRESS HOOK (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • POT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • BOX (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BROOCH (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • COIN (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • DRESS HOOK (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • WEIGHT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BRICK (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HUMAN REMAINS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SEAL MATRIX (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STUD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • WEIGHT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • DRESS COMPONENT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • TOKEN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status - none

Sources and further reading

---Unpublished Document: Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 2003. Treasure Annual Report 2002. p 95; No 110; Fig 110.
---Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TG 20 SW 29.
---Monograph: Williams, D. 1997. Late Saxon stirrup-strap mounts. A classification and catalogue. A contribution to the study of Late Saxon ornamental metalwork.. CBA Research Report. No. 111. No 356; p 78.
---Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---Article in Serial: Ashley, S. and Rogerson, A. 1995. Further Examples of Radiate and Related brooches from Norfolk. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLII Pt II pp 219-220.
---Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Medieval. Swainsthorpe.
---Photograph: 1995. LCK 26-27, Middle Saxon brooch tenminal..
---Photograph: 1995. LCK 28-29, Late Saxon disc brooch..
---Photograph: 1995. LCK 30-31, Late Saxon openwork strap-end..
---Photograph: 1995. 32-33, Middle Saxon strap-end..
---Photograph: 1995. LCK 34-35, Late Saxon box mount..
---Photograph: 1994. LDM 13-15, Early Saxon mount.
---Photograph: 1994. LDM 16-17, Early Saxon bossed mount..
---Photograph: 1994. LDM 18-20, Early Saxon small long brooch..
---Photograph: 1994. LDM 21-22, Middle Saxon leaf shaped tag..
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
<S1>Photograph: I & RS. Digital finds image.
<S2>Monograph: Margeson, S.. 1993. Norwich Households: Medieval and post-medieval finds from Norwich Survey Excavations 1971-1978.. East Anglian Archaeology. No 58. Figure 8..

Related records

9725Part of: Site of St Mary's Church, Swainsthorpe (Monument)

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