Record Details

NHER Number:1913
Type of record:Monument
Name:Possible Roman temple and settlement, North Creake

Summary

This site has produced a large and diverse assemblage of Roman finds. Although these objects have been recovered since at least the 1940s, the majority were recovered as a result of fieldwalking and metal-detecting undertaken between 1988 and 1996. Of particular significance are the number of potentially votive/religious items, suggesting that this may well have been the site of some form of temple. These objects include a mask of Sol, votive stands, a figurine, miniature votive axe and sherds from pottery vessels that were possibly deliberate copies of cauldrons. The other Roman finds include a large amount of pottery, brick, roof tiles, flue tiles, many coins and a variety of other metal objects including brooches, bracelets, patera handle, spoon, cosmetic mortar, enamelled pendant, razor handle, finger rings, furniture fittings and steelyard weights. The range of material present suggests that this was also the site of some form of Roman-period settlement foci.

Other finds recovered from the site include undatable prehistoric, Mesolithic and Mesolithic/Neolithic worked flints; Iron Age pottery; Iron Age, medieval and post-medieval coins and a range of other metal objects. The other metal objects include Bronze Age socketed axe fragments; an Iron Age copper alloy mould for a disc/torc terminal and a La Tene 1 brooch; Early Saxon brooch fragments and sword pommel cap; a Late Saxon/medieval casket binding strip; medieval belt fittings, buckles, casket mount, spur and brooch; a post-medieval rumbler bell, brooch, furniture fitting and tobacco tamper and undatable (but probably Roman) iron slag, glass fragments and copper alloy waste.

The pond in the centre of the field was cleaned in 1920, revealing steps descending into the pond and a well in its base.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:Not displayed
Map Sheet:TF83NW
Parish:NORTH CREAKE, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

Roman religious site (and possibly settlement).

1920 to 1921. Field Observation.
In 1990 [1] reported that in the winter of 1920-1 the large pond in the centre of the field was cleaned out and steps were found going down into it and a well at the base. East of the pond spreads of iron slag clinker we seen in paths for many years, but not recently in 1990.
E. B. Green (NCM), 1990. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 12 December 2013.

1920-1990. Stray Finds.
Various finds were found in this field in the decades after 1920 including a diverse assemblage of Roman pottery including amphora sherds, 4th century Nene Valley or Colchester mortarium with black ironstone grits, a mortaria flange, a massive jar sherd with grooves and comb decoration and greyware (including 2nd-to 4th-century bead and flange bowls). Other finds included tegula, combed flue tiles (one with burning), imbrex and iron slag. Identified by D. Gurney (NLA), 14 February 1990 (may include some material described seperately below).
E. B. Green (NCM), 1990. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 12 December 2013.

1946 to 1948. Stray Finds.
Found by [2] in area of Context 2 at [3]:
Roman pottery (coarse sherds and 2nd-century Samian) and roof tiles. NCM No. 11. Seen by R. R. Clarke.
Found by [2]in area of Context 3 at [4]:
Roman quern fragment. Upper stone of conglomerate quern (Hunsbury derivative). NCM No. 10. Seen by R. R. Clarke.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 12 December 2013.

February 1988. Fieldwalking.
Found by [5]:
3 Iron Age pottery sherds.
Roman pottery including greywares and Ipswich globular amphora (1st-3rd century AD).
Roman brick and tegula.
Identified by T. Gregory (NAU). See list in file.
Amended and expanded by P. Watkins (HES), 12 December 2013.

1988. Metal-detecting.
Found by [11]:
5 Roman coins, 2 disc brooches, copper alloy, tinned patera handle, spoon, copper alloy pin and 1 applique copper alloy mask of Sol with rayed head dress (traces of solder on back).
1 post-medieval knob from handle attachment of casket or drawer.
Identified by S. Margeson (NCM). See list in file.
Amended and expanded by P. Watkins (HES), 12 December 2013.

August-September 1988. Metal-detecting.
Survey over gridded area of this field:

Finds by [6] included:
10 undatable prehistoric flakes, 4 cores, 1 scraper, and 1 concave end scraper. Identified by J. J. Wymer (NAU).
Iron Age pottery sherds.
1 Iron Age copper alloy mould for disc. See drawing (S3). See NHER 30853 for another, similar object.
97 Roman coins, 6 brooches, enamelled decorative votive stand, headless "native style" figurine, 2 lead steelyard weights and copper alloy vessel foot.
1 ?Roman copper alloy knob.
1 medieval belt chape terminal.
1 post-medieval rumbler bell.

Finds by [5] included:
1 ?Bronze Age ?socketed axe fragment.
1 Iron Age coin (gold stater). See NCM polaroid.
Roman pottery, including Samian (inc. mortarium), coarse wares, Oxfordshire, Much Hadham and shell-tempered. Also possible pottery copies of cauldrons (religious?).
Roman tile fragments (tegula and imbrex).
5 Roman coins, 1 silver ring (Henig Type 8), 6 brooches, 1 lock pin, 7 lead steelyard weights, 1 cosmetic mortar (bull's head pendant), 1 bracelet fragment, 1 furniture knob
?Roman copper alloy sheet ?vessel fragments, 1 copper alloy ?ferrule fragment, copper alloy chain link., copper alloy sheet ?vessel fragments, 1 copper alloy ?ferrule fragment, copper alloy chain link.
2 medieval coins, 1 annular brooch and 1 belt fitting.
6 undatable lead pot mends, 2 unidentified copper alloy objects, 1 lead weight, 4 copper alloy ?waste fragments.

See lists in file.
Amended and expanded by P. Watkins (HES), 12 December 2013.

1988-1989. Fieldwalking and metal-detecting.
Further finds by [5]:
2 Roman coins, 1 copper alloy lock, 1 tegula fragment,
1 medieval belt mount and 1 lead cloth seal.
1 post-medieval coin.
1 undatable copper alloy casting jet fragment and 2 fragments of ribbed glass.
See list in file.
Amended and expanded by P. Watkins (HES), 12 December 2013.

1989. Fieldwalking and metal-detecting.
Further finds by [5]:
Iron Age pottery sherds.
16 Roman coins, 2 brooches (T-shaped and trumpet) and copper alloy finger ring (1st century, identified by M. Henig)
1 Early Saxon cruciform brooch.
1 medieval coin, 1 buckle and 1 belt fitting.
See list in file.
Amended and expanded by P. Watkins (HES), 12 December 2013.

1989. Fieldwalking and metal-detecting.
Further finds recovered by [6]:
3 Mesolithic cores, 4 blades and 6 broken blades.
16 Mesolithic/Neolithic flakes, some with retouch. Flints identified by J. J. Wymer (NAU).
1 Bronze Age socketed axe fragment. See drawing (S5).
Iron Age pottery sherds, 1 coin (see NCM polaroid) and 1 La Tene I brooch.
78 Roman coins (including rare contemporary forgery of A Severus), 1 silver ring, 2 brooch fragments, 2 steelyard weights (1 very large), 2 copper alloy bracelets (inc. 1 snake bracelet), 1 decorated miniature votive axe, 1 stud, 1 lead pot mend (attached to greyware sherd) and 2 bucket lugs.
1 ?Roman ring and 1 burnt copper alloy object
1 Early Saxon cruciform brooch (found at [7]). See NCM polaroid.
3 medieval coins and buckle fragment.
An area of dark soil with 'pot boilers' was also observed in the area of Context 9/14.
See list in file.
Amended and expanded by P. Watkins (HES), 12 December 2013.

1989. Metal-detecting.
Further finds by [11]:
1 Iron Age copper alloy barrel toggle (Arras culture). See NCM polaroid.
27 Roman coins, 3 brooches (Colchester one-piece, ?Harlow Colchester derivative and Drahtfibel derivative), 1 enamelled pendant and 1 furniture/box knob.
1 ?Roman copper alloy casting jet.
1 Early Saxon pendant with stylised animal head.
1 medieval casket mount.
1 post-medieval brooch.
Amended and expanded by P. Watkins (HES), 12 December 2013.

1989.
Roman gold and silver coins found by [5] and [6] ruled not treasure trove at King's Lynn inquest. See press cutting in file (S4).
P. Watkins (HES), 12 December 2013.

February 1990. Metal-detecting.
Found by [8] at [9]:
1 Roman copper alloy razor handle with cast motif of animal, resembling the product of the union of a horse and an alligator/crocodile. See (S1).
Seen by D. Gurney (NLA) and S. Margeson (NCM). See description in file.
A. Rogerson, 10 March 1990.

October 1990. Metal-detecting.
Found by [10]:
21 Roman coins, 2 Roman brooches (hinged Colchester derivative and Hod Hill) and copper alloy lock pin.
D. Gurney (NLA), 15 October 1990.

1990. Metal-detecting.
Further finds by [5]:
2 Roman coins and 1 rear-hook dolphin brooch (very odd with lots of holes). See NCM polaroid.
Amended and expanded by P. Watkins (HES), 12 December 2013.

1990. Metal-detecting.
Further finds by [6]:
3 Iron Age pottery sherds ('gritty').
41 Roman coins, pottery (including Samian, East Anglia mortaria, Nene Valley Castor box and lid sherds and greyware), 2 tegula fragments and 1 brooch (Head stud)
2 ?Roman lead pot mends.
2 Early Saxon cruciform brooch fragments. See NCM polaroids and X-Rays.
1 Late Saxon/medieval casket binding strip. See NCM polaroid.
1 medieval backplate or rove and 1 spur.
1 undatable copper alloy rod.
Amended and expanded by P. Watkins (HES), 12 December 2013.

1991. Metal-detecting.
Further finds by [6]:
20 Roman coins, 1 binding with holes, 1 copper alloy finger ring (with missing intaglio) and 1 large copper alloy votive stand (top) (S2).
1 ?Roman stud.
Amended and expanded by P. Watkins (HES), 12 December 2013.

April 1992. Fieldwalking.
Found by [6] at Context 4 [12]:
1 Mesolithic microlith (obliquely blunted point).
9 ?Mesolithic blades, 3 small flakes, 1 oval flake.
2 undatable prehistoric end scrapers, 2 small flake cores, 3 blades and 11 flakes.
Identified by P. Robins (NCM), 21 May 1992. See list in file.
Amended and expanded by P. Watkins (HES), 12 December 2013.

December 1995. Metal-detecting:
Found in north-east corner of field by [13]:
3 Roman coins and lead weight.
1 Early Saxon 'cocked hat' sword pommel cap.
1 ?Late Saxon central bar from folding balance.
1 post-medieval baluster-moulded tobacco tamper and ?handle back-plate.
Coins identified by J. Davies (NCM) other items by S. Margeson (NCM) and D. Gurney (NLA). See list and descriptions in file.
Amended and expanded by P. Watkins (HES), 12 December 2013.

January 1996. Fieldwalking and metal-detecting:
Further finds by [13]:
4 Roman coins, 3 greyware pottery sherds and 1 copper alloy bracelet fragment.
1 post-medieval coin and 1 copper alloy handle.
1 undatable copper alloy 'collar'/thimble fragment.
Identified by D. Gurney (NLA). See list and descriptions in file.
D. Gurney (NLA), 19 April 1996. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 12 December 2013.

Monument Types

  • WELL (Unknown date)
  • BURNT MOUND (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Early Mesolithic to Late Neolithic - 10000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • FINDSPOT (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 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)
  • TEMPLE? (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Saxon to Medieval - 851 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Undated)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Undated)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Undated)
  • BLADE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • CORE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • CORE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • END SCRAPER (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • END SCRAPER (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FLAKE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FLAKE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • SCRAPER (TOOL) (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • BLADE (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
  • BLADE (Mesolithic - 10000 BC? to 4001 BC?)
  • CORE (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
  • FLAKE (Early Mesolithic to Late Neolithic - 10000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • FLAKE (Mesolithic - 10000 BC? to 4001 BC?)
  • MICROLITH (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
  • SOCKETED AXEHEAD (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • BROOCH (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • COIN (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • COIN (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • MOULD (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • POT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • TOGGLE (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • AXEHEAD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BOX (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BRACELET (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BUCKET (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • CHAIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FERRULE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FLUE TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • KEY (LOCKING) (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • LOCKING MECHANISM (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PALETTE (COSMETIC) (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PENDANT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PLAQUE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • QUERN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • RAZOR (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • ROOF TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SPOON (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • STEELYARD WEIGHT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • WEIGHT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • PENDANT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • SWORD (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • BALANCE (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BOX (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BOX (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)
  • SCABBARD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SPUR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BELL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • SEAL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status - none

Sources and further reading

---Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TF 83 NW 2; TF 83 NW 3.
---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 - Roman. Creake (North).
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
---Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
---Photograph: [Unknown]. [Unknown]. Photographs of a double-headed Colchester Derivative brooch.. HER Donation. print. colour.
<S1>Photograph: EUJ12-22, FHN 5-8.
<S2>Photograph: LWY 1-14.
<S3>Illustration: White, S. 1990. Drawing of an Iron Age copper alloy mould for a disc/torc buffer terminal. Film. 2:1.
<S4>Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1989. Coins decision.. 28 July.
<S5>Illustration: [Unknown]. 1989. Drawing of a Bronze Age copper alloy socketed axehead fragment (with part of loop). Paper. 1:1.

Related records - none

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