Record Details

NHER Number:12559
Type of record:Monument
Name:Iron Age iron working site and torc findspot

Summary

An extensive Iron Age iron working site discovered in a carstone quarry, excavated by the Norfolk Archaeological Unit in the 1970s and 1980s, which revealed various smelting pits and Iron Age pottery. In 1984 an Iron Age gold torc was found.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:Not displayed
Map Sheet:TF61SE
Parish:EAST WINCH, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK
MIDDLETON, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

Iron Age ironworking site, 1st centuries BC.
Iron deposits on top of carstone were being quarried for smelting.

1977.
Discovery of site, various pits containing black soil, charcoal, Iron Age sherds and burnt flints.

1978 to 1983.
Excavations and observations on various smelting pits.
See (S1, S2 and S3).
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2018.323).

1984.
Iron Age gold torc found, with a four strand plaited ring and triple ring terminals.
Found almost totally undamaged, despite having been through a crusher in the quarry.
See (S4).

See full details, notes, plans, sections and other details in file.
E. Rose (NLA) 29 October 1990.

Monument Types

  • FINDSPOT (Unknown date)
  • FINDSPOT (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • FURNACE (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • IRON WORKING SITE (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • PIT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

  • WEIGHT (Undated)
  • LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • BRIQUETAGE (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • PLANT REMAINS (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • POT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • TORC (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status - none

Sources and further reading

---Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1984. Decision on quarry torc next month. 7 November.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1984. Gold torc spotted in Norfolk quarry. 22 June.
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
---Slide: Various. Slide.
---Photograph: BBA 15-21.
---Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
<S1>Illustration: Unknown. 1978. Drawings of Iron Age? vessel.. Film. 1:1.
<S2>Illustration: Unknown. 1978. Drawings of Iron Age? vessel.. Film. 1:1.
<S3>Illustration: Unknown. 1978. Drawings of Iron Age? sherds.. Film. 1:1.
<S4>Illustration: Unknown. 1983. Drawings of Iron Age? vessel.. Film. 1:1.

Related records - none

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