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Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Record Details

NHER Number:	22663
Type of record:	Monument
Name:	Possible Late Saxon to medieval settlement and multi-period finds

Summary

Fieldwalking and metal detecting have recovered prehistoric worked flint flakes, an Early Saxon buckle, a Middle Saxon brooch, a Late Saxon stirrup, and medieval metal finds. Roman, Saxon and medieval coins were also found. Fragments of Saxon, medieval and post medieval pottery were also recovered. The concentration of Late Saxon and medieval finds suggests this may have been an area of settlement during these periods.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:	Not displayed
Map Sheet:	TM39NE
Parish:	HECKINGHAM, SOUTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

1985 to 1986. Fieldwalking. Hales Survey, Heckingham site 18.
Very gravelly soil sloping steeply to reeds.
Divided into three contexts:

Context 1. A in (S1). Under strawberries.
One rim, one base, one body sherd sandy Ipswich.
One rim and one body sherd pimply Ipswich.
Thirty four Thetford type.
One scrap probably Thetford type with stamped or rouletted decoration, very odd.
Seventy four medieval unglazed, predominantly early medieval.
Nine medieval glazed.
Six glazed red earthenware.
One post medieval stoneware.

Context 2. B in (S1). Cabbages. Walked after clearance. January 1986.
One flint: flake with slight retouch. Identified by J.J. Wymer (NAU).
Six Thetford type.
Twelve medieval unglazed.
Two unidentified.
Two glazed red earthenware.
Two post medieval stoneware.

Context 3. C in (S1). Stubble. Little chance to walk.
One rim pimply Ipswich.
One body sherd pimply Ipswich.
Five Thetford type.
Ten medieval unglazed.
Three glazed red earthenware.
Two post medieval stoneware.
See (S1).

4 April 1986. Fieldwalking.
Revisit.

Context 2.
Two probably Thetford.
Eight medieval unglazed.
One medieval glazed.
One late medieval/transitional.
Three glazed red earthenware.
One post medieval stoneware.

Context 3.
Two Thetford type.
Fourteen medieval unglazed.
Eight glazed red earthenware.
One unidentified.
Copper alloy cauldron rim with copper alloy rivet repair.
Identified by A. Rogerson (NAU).
E. Rose (NAU).
D. Gurney (NAU), 6 February 1989.

Context 2.
Middle/Late Saxon brooch, convex and gilded, with central triangle surrounded by three zoomorphic motifs and three ovolos.
See (S2), (S3) and (S4).
Identified by A. Rogerson (NAU).
Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 17 January 2020.

Saxon ? Bronze sheet fragment, subrectangular with ring and dot and stamped decoration.
See (S2).

October 1989. Metal detecting.
14th century French jetton.
Details in file.
D. Gurney (NAU), 3 November 1989.

May 2001 or before. Metal detecting.
Middle Saxon and Late Saxon coins. Middle Saxon coin is Carolingian.
Medieval metal objects.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 27 June 2001.

October 2001. Metal detecting.
Late Saxon stirrup terminal.
Medieval suspension unit for lamp or censer.
Medieval buckle plate.
Medieval key.
See (S2) and list in file.
S. Ashley (NLA), 6 December 2001.

November 2001. Metal detecting.
Five Roman coins.
Note no Roman finds from this site before.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 22 January 2001.

August 2003. Metal detecting.
One post medieval coin.
Medieval and post medieval metal objects.
See description in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 3 November 2003.

November 2004. Metal detecting.
One post medieval coin and jetton.
Early Saxon buckle.
Medieval and post medieval metal objects.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 27 December 2004.

January 2005. Metal detecting.
Post medieval belt mount.
Undated weight.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 1 March 2005.

Site 18a.
This area has been interpreted as a Late Saxon to early medieval settlement. Thirty four Thetford type, seventy four early medieval sherds (some medieval).
Site 18a.
This site has been interpreted as an area of medieval settlement. A continuation of previous activity.
See (S5).
M. Dennis (NLA), 1 February 2006.

Monument Types

FINDSPOT (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 701 BC)
FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
FINDSPOT (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
FINDSPOT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
FINDSPOT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
SETTLEMENT (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

POT (Undated)
UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Undated)
WEIGHT (Unknown date)
FLAKE (Early Neolithic to Late Bronze Age - 4000 BC to 701 BC)
COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
BUCKLE (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
BROOCH (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
COIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
POT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
BROOCH (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
COIN (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
STIRRUP (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
CAULDRON (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
CENSER (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
FINGER RING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
FURNITURE FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
HARNESS MOUNT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
KEY (LOCKING) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
STRAP END (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
TOKEN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
FINGER RING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
HOOKED TAG (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
JETTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
STRAP FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status - none

Sources and further reading

---	*Fieldwork: Hales Survey. 18. Hales.
---	Photograph: I & RS. Digital finds image.
---	Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---	Secondary File: Secondary File.
---	Photograph: EWJ 3-4, 9-11.
<S1>	Unpublished Document: Hales Survey. Hales Survey fieldwalking notes.
<S2>	Photograph: NLA. 2001. Finds Photograph. Polaroid.
<S3>	Illustration: Fox, D.E.. 1995. Drawing of a Middle/Late Saxon disc brooch.. Paper. 2:1.
<S4>	Thesis: Richardson, C. 1993. The Borre Style in the British Isles and Ireland. A Re-assessment. p 21.
<S5>	Monograph: Davison, A.. 1990. The Evolution of Settlement in Three Parishes in South-East Norfolk. East Anglian Archaeology. Vol 49.