Record Details

NHER Number:30650
Type of record:Monument
Name:Romano-celtic temple site, cremation burials, and buildings

Summary

A watching brief was undertaken along the A143 Scole to Stuston bypass, which recovered a number of interesting features as well as coins, pottery sherds and objects from the Roman period. Evidence for 2nd and 3rd century field boundaries, two parallel ditches containing cremated human and animal remains, and a small Romano-Celtic masonry temple were discovered.

A nearby clay floor or yard surface may be associated with the temple, around which a number of votive objects such as a miniature cauldron were recovered. To the east, pot pits indicate the presence of another building, and nearby a kiln or furnace was also recovered. The archaeological evidence was almost exclusively dated to the Roman period. It seems likely that this site was part of, or linked to, the Roman settlement at Scole, which is discussed more thoroughly in NHER 1007.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:TM 1527 7855
Map Sheet:TM17NE
Parish:SCOLE, SOUTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

1994. Watching Brief.
Undertaken along the Norfolk portion of the A143 Scole-Suston Bypass.
This work revealed a small Romano-Celtic masonry temple. Two ditches containing cremated animal bone, ceramic cremation urns and votive objects were probably associated with the temple, as was a clay floor or yard surface. A number of earlier, 2nd- and 3rd-century field boundaries were also identified - these were aligned with a known east-west Roman road. Two post-pits may have formed part of a 2nd- or 3rd-century building. A kiln or furnace was the only evidence for industrial activity.
See plan in file and report (S1) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S3).
E. Rose (NLA), 6 June 1994. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 8 April 2015.

1994. Metal detector finds in area of 'Temple' on east-to-west bypass due south of sewage works. [1]
Iron Age coin, thirty-two Roman coins. Identified by J. Davies (NCM), 22 September 1994.
Five Roman brooches. Identified by D. Mackreth.
Eleven Roman metal objects including two votive axes.
Roman pottery: four Samian including one decorated, two oxidised sherds (one a bowl rim) and nine grey wares (four rims = three jars, one deep 'nosey' bowl), two base and three body. Identified by D.Gurney (NLA), 1994.
Compiled by W. Milligan (NCM), 22 September 1994.

1995. Metal detector spoil. [2]
Twenty-seven Roman coins.
Roman brooches and other metalwork, including phallic mount* and lead figurine of Priapus*.
Also medieval heraldic pendant.
See form and list in secondary file.
*See slide NLA.
D.Gurney (NLA), 1 April 1996.

1995. Metal detecting. [1]
'Temple Site'.
Thirteen Roman coins.
Medieval coin.
Roman helmet plume (S4).
Roman terret (S5), brooch, ?votive leaf (S6), ?crossbow brooch knob.
Early Saxon pendant.
Late Saxon strap-end.
Early post medieval buckle frame.
Iron Age or Early Saxon and Roman sherd.
See lists, photocopied polaroids (S2) with minimal descriptions in secondary file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 30 June 2002.

The Norwich Castle Museum now holds a range of material relating to the work undertaken at this site between 1994 and 1995. This includes the archive associated with the excavation of the temple in 1994 (NWHCM : 2000.78) and various finds recovered during the 1994 watching brief and subsequent metal-detecting (NWHCM : 2007.331). The Roman helmet plume and ?votive leaf found in 1995 were also donated to the Norwich Castle Museum and individually accessioned (NWHCM : 2000.78.1.1-2).
P. Watkins (HES), 23 July 2019.

January 1997. Metal detecting. [3]
Roman coins, medieval cut 1/4d and jetton
See lists in file. Identified by J. A. Davies.
Roman brooch - around AD 40 to 60/65. Identified by D. Macreth June 1997.
Late Saxon stirrup mount
Medieval bar-mount
late medieval or early post medieval double looped buckle.
See list and polaroids (S2) in secondary file. Identified by H. Geake (NCM), 14 February 1997.
Compiled by W. Milligan (NCM), 20 February 1997.

28 March 1994. NLA air photography.
NAU excavation of Roman building on route of Scole Bypass can be seen.
H. Clare (NLA), 2 February 2001.

Monument Types

  • BUILDING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • CREMATION (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • DITCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FIELD SYSTEM (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FLOOR (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FURNACE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PALISADE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PIT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POST HOLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • TEMPLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Associated Finds

  • STUD (Undated)
  • LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • COIN (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • POT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • AMULET (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • ANIMAL REMAINS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • AXEHEAD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BOW BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BOX (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BRACELET (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BRIQUETAGE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • CAULDRON (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • CEREMONIAL OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • CEREMONIAL OBJECT (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)
  • DRESS COMPONENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FIGURINE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • HARNESS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • HARNESS FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • HELMET (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • HELMET (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • KEY (LOCKING) (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • LOCKING MECHANISM (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • MINIATURE OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • MIRROR (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • MOULD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • MOUNT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • NAIL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PLUME (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • ROOF TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • STUD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SURGICAL INSTRUMENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • WORKED OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • XPLUME HOLDER (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PENDANT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • POT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • STIRRUP (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • PENDANT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status - none

Sources and further reading

---Photograph: NLA. Finds Photograph.
---Monograph: Ashley, S. 2002. Medieval Armorial Horse Furniture in Norfolk. East Anglian Archaeology. No 101.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1994. Ancient six-day wonder. 1 November.
---Photograph: Shelley, A.. 1994. CYN-CYP.
---Photograph: 1995. LCW 13-14, Romano British fitting..
---Photograph: 1995. LCW 15-17, Romano British object..
---Photograph: 1995. LCW 22-26, Romano British terret..
---Photograph: 1995. LCW 37-31, Romano British helmet plume fitting..
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
---Slide: Various. Slide.
<S1>Unpublished Contractor Report: Shelley, A. 1995. A143 Scole-Stuston Bypass. Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 129.
<S2>Photograph: NCC Find Identification and Recording Service. c. 1975-2000. HES Find Polaroid Collection. HES Find Polaroid Collection. polaroid. black and white.
<S3>Article in Serial: Gurney, D. (ed.). 1995. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk 1994. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLII Pt II pp 230-239. p 236.
<S4>Illustration: Jenkins, T. 1995. Drawing of a Roman copper alloy military helmet plume holder. Paper. 1:1.
<S5>Illustration: Jenkins, T. 1995. Drawing of a Roman copper alloy terret. Paper. 1:1.
<S6>Illustration: Jenkins, T. 1995. Drawing of a Roman copper alloy leaf-shaped ?votive object. Paper. 1:1.

Related records - none

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