Record Details
| NHER Number: | 4801 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Early or Middle Saxon cemetery |
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Summary
At least seven inhumations have been found here since 1930 in a sand and gravel pit. This includes one male skeleton found with a dog skeleton. The dog had its head resting on the man's leg. Other skeletons were buried with Early to Middle Saxon pottery fragments, iron knives and possibly a pair of shears. A Roman or Early Saxon bracelet was found on the surface of the gravel pit.
Images - none
Location
| Grid Reference: | TL 78 99 |
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| Map Sheet: | TL79NE |
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| Parish: | FOULDEN, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK |
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Full description
1930.
Probable 7th century cemetery. One or two human skeletons found in sand pit.
1931.
Excavation of male human skeleton skeleton and dog skeleton. The head of the dog was resting on the man's leg.
See (S1).
1954.
Inhumation I.
Inhumation found lying north to south. Male. Around 19 years old..
March 1958.
Inhumation II.
Excavation revealed a human skeleton which laid with the head to the west with a small iron knife at wrist; this is now kept at NCM. The Skeleton is lying on its back at an 85 degree orientation, the feet are missing. A Young adult female was also recovered, left hand on the pelvis and right hand by side.
See (S4) for more information.
May 1962.
Erection of west face of gravel pit revealed further inhumations.
Inhumation III.
Bones found loose in talus and also iron knife. All probably from grave of which the west end was visible in face of pit.
Inhumation IV.
Tibiae projected from gravel. Head to west. Axis 90 degree grid. Lower half of skeleton excavated. Hands crossed on pelvis. Two sherds of black ware found in pelvis region as part of infill of grave. These sherds Early or Middle Saxon?
Inhumation V.
Not excavated. Distal ends of fibulae and tibiae projecting. One sherd ?medieval found in talus near bones of inhumation III.
1963.
Inhumation-grave found in the side of a gravel pit which contained, a tanged iron knife, possibly part of a pair of shears and fragments of another iron blade.
These discoveries were reported in (S4) and (S5).
1963. Stray Find.
Found on surface:
?Roman copper alloy bracelet with incised decoration. See drawing (S6). May be 4th century or Early
Saxon like examples from Saffron Wallen.
See record card (S7) for further details.
See (S3) for short summery.
See details in file.
E. Rose (NAU), 4 July 1990.
Monument Types
- CEMETERY (Early Saxon to Middle Saxon - 410 AD to 850 AD)
- INHUMATION (Early Saxon to Middle Saxon - 410 AD to 850 AD)
Associated Finds
- BRACELET (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
- (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
- BRACELET (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
- HUMAN REMAINS (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
- KNIFE (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
- SHEARS (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
- UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
- POT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
- POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
Protected Status
Sources and further reading
| --- | Serial: 1958. Council for British Archaeology Group 7 Bulletin of Archaeological Discoveries. Vol 5. p 3. |
| --- | Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TL 79 NE 10. |
| --- | 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 - Early Saxon. Foulden [3]. |
| --- | Secondary File: Secondary File. |
| --- | Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service. |
| <S1> | Article in Serial: 1931. Summary of Proceedings. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia. Vol VI Pt IV p 385. |
| <S2> | Article in Serial: Wilson, D. M. and Hurst, J. G. 1960. Medieval Britain in 1958. Medieval Archaeology. Vol III (for 1959) pp 295-326. p 297. |
| <S3> | Article in Serial: Wilson, D. M. and Hurst, D. G. 1965. Medieval Britain in 1962 and 1963. Medieval Archaeology. Vol VIII (for 1964) pp 231-299. p 237. |
| <S4> | Serial: 1962. Council for British Archaeology Group 7 Bulletin of Archaeological Discoveries for 1962. No 9. p 3. |
| <S5> | Serial: 1963. Council for British Archaeology Group 7 Bulletin of Archaeological Discoveries for 1963. No 10. p 3. |
| <S6> | Illustration: Milligan, W. 1963. Drawing of a Roman copper alloy bracelet. Card. 1:1. |
| <S7> | Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Roman. Foulden. |
Related records - none
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