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Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Record Details

NHER Number:	16121
Type of record:	Monument
Name:	Roman settlement and multi-period finds, Gayton

Summary

A series of possible rectilinear enclosures can be seen on an aerial photograph.
Metal-detecting and fieldwalking between 1980s and 2015 recovered a Palaeolithic flint handaxe; Roman, Late Saxon and medieval pottery sherds; Roman tile fragments; Iron Age, Roman, Late Saxon and medieval coins; medieval jettons; post-medieval tokens and Bronze Age to medieval metal objects. The metal finds include a Bronze Age unidentified object; Iron Age brooches and an unidentified copper alloy 'moustache'; Roman brooches, bracelet fragments, a buckle, hair pin, nail file, seal box, palette and weight; an Early Saxon brooch and repaired pin; Middle or Late Saxon strap-end; a Late Saxon buckle and finger-ring; medieval to post-medieval dress accessories and medieval brooches, a bell, casket key, seal, spindle whorl, weight, harness mount and copper alloy vessel fragment.
The quantity of Roman pottery sherds, coins and metal finds indicate that this was the site of a settlement during that period.

Images

Location

Grid Reference:	Not displayed
Map Sheet:	TF71NW
Parish:	GAYTON, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

Spring 1980. On field surface. [1].
Two acre spread of early Grimston Ware. Small quantity of Roman pottery and tile along track on south.
E. Rose (NAU), 12 May 1980.

Linear and rectilinear cropmarks. Some possible enclosures.
J. Bown (NAU), 11 December 1980.

24 December 1984. Visit. [2].
Several sherds of Roman coarse ware and Samian found along south hedge.
A. Gregory (NAU), 24 December 1984.

November 1992. Metal detecting finds. [3].
Iron Age, Roman, medieval coins.
Early Saxon and medieval artefacts.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 24 December 1992.

December 1992. Metal detecting finds. [3].
Roman, Early Saxon, medieval finds.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 1 February 1993.

September 1993. Metal detecting finds. [4].
Five Roman coins. For grid references see file.
Lead bun shaped spindle whorl, ?Medieval, diameter 32mm.
Fragment bronze rim. ?vessel, ?Medieval.
?Medieval bronze belt mount, engraved borders, two pierced holes in centre, cut away at one end with a semi circular opening and at the other with an angled opening.
Identified by J. Davies (NCM) and S. Margeson (NCM).
A. Rogerson (NLA), 1 November 1993.

October 1993. Metal detecting finds. [4].
Roman and post medieval coins.
Roman and medieval metalwork.
See lists in file with individual grid references.
Identified by J. Davies and S. Margeson (NCM).
A. Rogerson (NLA) 3 December 1993.

November 1993. Metal detecting finds. [4].
Medieval buckle, weight and strap end.
See details in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA)

March 1994.
Seven Roman, two medieval coins. See lists in file.
Bronze Early Saxon disc brooch, punched crescents around edge. Pin lug broken, traces of iron adjacent. Intact catchplate. See (S1).
Bronze medieval strap end plate, front. Rocker arm decoration and cast terminal.
Bronze medieval casket key, circular bow and hollow stem.
Bronze medieval ring brooch, divided by transverse lines into cushion shaped fields; pin looped round narrow bar.
Bronze medieval tiny belt hasp.
One other Roman coin (missed by NCM).
Identified by S. Margeson (NCM) and J. Davies (NCM).
A. Rogerson (NLA) 28 April 1994.

March 1994.
One medieval coin, one post medieval jetton and one token. See list in file.
Simple square medieval sheet strap end or belt end, engraved border, three rivet holes.
Medieval buckle plate with engraved border. Two rivet holes.
Medieval belt stiffener, two rivets. Hole through central bulge.
Early Saxon disc or plate brooch with border of crescentric stamps, tinning/ silvering, broken single pin lug which is parallel with pin (of which there are iron traces). Intact catchplate. See (S1).
A. Rogerson (NLA) 24 June 1994.

January 1995. Metal detecting finds. [4].
Roman and medieval coins.
Roman palette.
Medieval pin and brooch.
Post medieval ?seal.
Early Saxon mount.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 6 March 1995.

September 1995. Metal detecting finds. [4].
Medieval coin.
Post medieval token.
Medieval and post medieval metal finds.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 30 October 1995.

1995. Stray Find. [4].
Surface find by [5]:
1 Palaeolithic flint handaxe. See drawing (S2).
Identified by P. Robins (NCM), see description in file. This object is also noted on (S7)and in (S3) and (S4), although no additional information is given.
E. Rose (NLA), 24 September 1997. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 8 December 2013.

March 1999. Metal detecting. [6].
Roman, Late Saxon and medieval coins.
Roman, medieval, post medieval and undatable metal finds.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 30 April 1999.

April 1999. Metal detecting. [7].
Iron Age brooch
Seven Roman coins, one Middle Saxon coin, one medieval coin.
Medieval jetton.
Roman, Early Saxon, Middle Saxon, Late Saxon, medieval & post medieval metal finds.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 5 June 1999.

May 1999. Metal detecting. [8].
One medieval coin.
Iron Age brooch.
Post medieval buckle.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 29 July 1999.

2002.
Reidentification of medieval dagger quillon (found December 1992) since it was discovered in Bronze Age/Iron Age deposits. Identified as 'moustaches' by I. Stead (British Museum) See (S5). As yet no idea what they are!
See description in file and (S6).
K. Hinds (NLA), 16 January 2002.

March 2002. Metal detecting.
Iron Age, Early Saxon and medieval metal finds.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 2 May 2002.

March 2002. Metal detecting.
Five Roman coins.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 3 July 2002.

April 2002. Metal detecting. In two areas.
Medieval buckle.
Six Roman coins
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 30 May 2002.

July-December 2014. Metal-detecting. [9].
Finds recorded on the PAS database:
Late Saxon copper alloy finger ring.
Medieval strap-ends, buckles, brooches and a harness mount.
Post-medieval finger ring.
Finds identified by HES but not recorded on the PAS:
3 medieval coins.
A. Beckham (HES), 25 February 2015.

Monument Types

LINEAR FEATURE (Unknown date)
RECTILINEAR ENCLOSURE (Unknown date)
FINDSPOT (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic - 1000000 BC to 40001 BC)
FINDSPOT (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
FINDSPOT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
SETTLEMENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
FINDSPOT (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
FINDSPOT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
FINDSPOT (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

HANDAXE (Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 40001 BC)
UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
BOW BROOCH (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
BOW BROOCH (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
COIN (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
BOW BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
BRACELET (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
BUCKLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
HAIR PIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
NAIL FILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
PALETTE (COSMETIC) (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
SEAL BOX (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
WEIGHT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
BROOCH (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
PERSONAL ORNAMENT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
PIN (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
COIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
STRAP FITTING (Middle Saxon to Late Saxon - 651 AD to 1065 AD)
BUCKLE (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
COIN (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
FINGER RING (Late Saxon - 900 AD to 1065 AD)
BELL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BROOCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
JETTON (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
KEY (LOCKING) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
PIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
SEAL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
SPINDLE WHORL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
VESSEL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
WEIGHT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BUCKLE (12th Century to 14th Century - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
BUCKLE (12th Century to 14th Century - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
HARNESS MOUNT (12th Century to 14th Century - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
BROOCH (13th Century to 14th Century - 1230 AD to 1400 AD)
STRAP END (13th Century to 15th Century - 1270 AD to 1450 AD)
STRAP END (13th Century to 14th Century - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
BELL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
BUTTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
DRESS HOOK (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
KNIFE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
PERSONAL ORNAMENT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
SEAL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
TOKEN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
FINGER RING (16th Century to 18th Century - 1600 AD to 1800 AD)

Protected Status

SHINE
Higher Level Stewardship

Sources and further reading

---	Aerial Photograph: TF 7318T,U,Y-AC,AE,AH.
---	Photograph: I & RS. Digital finds image.
---	Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---	Photograph: 1999. KSK 30, Medieval double looped buckle..
---	Photograph: 1999. KSK 29, Medieval D shaped buckle..
---	Photograph: 1999. KSL 18, Romano British dolphin brooch.
---	Photograph: 1999. KSL 21, Romano British brooch fragment..
---	Photograph: 1999. KSL 22, Middle/Late Saxon strap-end..
---	Photograph: 1999. KSL 25, Romano British/Early Saxon cruciform brooch.
---	Photograph: 1999. KSL 26, Iron Age/Romano British birdlip brooch.
---	Photograph: 1999. KSL 27, Middle Saxon/Medieval buckle frame.
---	Photograph: 1999. KSL 28-29, Middle Saxon sceatta bird on a cross..
---	Photograph: 1999. KSL 36, Early Saxon cruciform head.
---	Photograph: 2002. KTF 29, Early Saxon small long brooch..
---	Photograph: 2004. KVE 27, Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age moustache..
---	Photograph: 1995. LDD 34, Early Saxon mount..
---	Photograph: 1994. LDS 1-2, Saxon disc brooch..
---	Secondary File: Secondary File.
<S1>	Photograph: NLA. Finds Photograph.
<S2>	Illustration: Anderson, S. 1995. Drawing of a Palaeolithic flint handaxe from Gayton. Paper. 1:1.
<S3>	Unpublished Contractor Report: 1996. The English Rivers Palaeolithic Project. Regions 9 (Great Ouse) and 12 (Yorkshire and the Lincolnshire Wolds). Wessex Archaeology. N&W-2, No. 4.
<S4>	Website: TERPS online database. Site 23065.
<S5>	Monograph: Stead, I.. 1998. The Salisbury Hoard.. p 117.
<S6>	Illustration: White, S.. 2004. Drawing of an Iron Age copper alloy 'moustache'.. Film. 2:1.
<S7>	Record Card: Wymer, J. J. Wymer Index Card - Palaeolithic. Gayton.