View a printer friendly version of this page

Record Details

NHER Number:24620
Type of record:Monument
Name:Site of Early Saxon inhumation cemetery and multi-period finds

Summary

Metal-detecting in this field has recovered a notable number of Early Saxon objects suggesting that this is probably the site of an Early Saxon inhumation cemetery. The Early Saxon finds include several brooches and wrist clasp fragments, a probable girdle hanger and an amber bead. Fieldwalking and metal-detecting between 1988 and 2016 has also recovered Mesolithic, Mesolithic/Early Neolithic, Neolithic, Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age and undatable prehistoric worked flints; Iron Age, Roman, Early Saxon, Late Saxon, medieval and post-medieval pottery sherds; Roman, medieval and post-medieval coins and Bronze Age, Roman, Late Saxon, medieval, medieval/post-medieval, and post-medieval metal objects. The metal finds include a Bronze Age axe; a Roman brooch; a Late Saxon strap fitting; medieval buckles, a ferrule and a seal; and medieval/post-medieval copper alloy vessel fragments and a button.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:Not displayed
Map Sheet:TG03NW
Parish:GUNTHORPE, NORTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

May 1988. Metal detecting survey. [1] and [2].
Finds indicate Early Saxon inhumation cemetery.
See (S1), (S2), (S4), (S5) and (S6).
Late Bronze Age socketed axe blade was also found (S3).
See list in file.

1988. Surface finds. Mostly from southeast half of field.
1 Roman coarse, 1 Thetford type ?, 8 medieval unglazed, 4 glazed Grimston.
A. Rogerson (NAU) 30 June 1988, 2 August 1988.

1989. Metal detecting. [1] and [2].
Further Early Saxon finds found.
See (S7), (S8), (S9), (S10) and (S11).
See list in file.

September-October 1990. Metal-detecting. [1] and [2].
See (S12), (S13), (S14) and (S15).
A. Rogerson (NLA) 1 November 1990

Early 1992. Metal-detecting. [1] and [2].
Further Early Saxon brooches.
See (S16), (S17), (S18), (S19), (S20), (S21) and (S22)
2 undated objects, (S23) and (S24).
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 7 September 1992.

November 1992. Metal detecting finds.
Roman, Early Saxon (S25) and medieval finds.
See file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 24 December 1992.

1988-1992. Metal-detecting.
Early Saxon annular brooch fragment with punched dot decoration. [8].
See (S27)
Identification A. Rogerson (HES), 23 July 2017.
A. Beckham (HES), 26 July 2017.

1994. Metal detecting find. [3].
Early Saxon brooch, (S26).
Details in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 20 October 1994.

First half 1999. Metal detecting.
3 Early Saxon objects including an unusual wrist clasp or bar mount.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 4 January 2000.

September 1999. Field observation. [6].
Fragment of secondary flint flake.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 13 July 2000.

July 2000. Fieldwalking. [7].
Neolithic rounded end scraper on pear shaped flake of grey brown flint with bluish white patina. Probably Neolithic. Found on headland by the Sand Pits nearly in the corner by the osier carr but further north than the nearest oak tree to the osier carr.

31 March 2001. Fieldwalking. [7].
Prehistoric 3 flints, one thermal, all with some edge damage, probably accidental. Two found on Sandy Hill. September and November 2000 and one at top of hill just above Anglo Saxon cemetery site.
Identified by P. A. Robins (NCM)
A. Rogerson (NLA), 22 May 2002.

Spring 2007. Surface collection in 2 areas.
Prehistoric worked flints, ?Late Saxon and medieval sherds, and undatable iron slag.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 12 April 2008.

2-5 April 2010. Systematic Fieldwalking.
Gridded fieldwalking at southernmost tip of field (grid squares A4-H4):
121 undatable prehistoric flint flakes, 2 cores and 1 scraper.
1 Mesolithic flint blade fragment and 1 notched bladelet.
1 Late Mesolithic/Early Neolithic flint blade.
1 Neolithic broken flint blade, 1 retouched flake and 1 side scraper.
1 Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age flint oval thumbnail scraper.
1 Iron Age pottery sherd (dark, reduced).
6 Roman pottery sherds (greyware).
7 Late Saxon pottery sherds (Thetford-type).
130 medieval pottery sherds (114 unglazed, 13 glazed Grimston and 3 ?glazed Grimston).
6 post-medieval pottery sherds (Glazed Red Earthenware) and 4 clay tobacco pipe fragments.
Identified by A. Rogerson (HES). See list and finder's map in file.
A. Rogerson (HES), 28 January 2013. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 1 July 2014.

January 2010-December 2013. Metal-detecting. [9].
1 Roman pottery sherd.
Early Saxon annular brooch.
2 Late Saxon Thetford Ware pottery sherds.
2 medieval pottery sherds, and buckles.
Medieval/post-medieval copper alloy vessel sherds and a button.
Information from PAS import.
E. McDonald (HES), 4 July 2017 and P. Watkins (HES), 18 November 2023.

July 2013-April 2014. Systematic Fieldwalking and Metal-detecting Survey.
Survey of proposed route of Dudgeon Offshore Windfarm onshore cable (Field 50).
No finds of archaeological interest were recovered in the area examinated at the southern end of the field.
See report (S28) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 15 August 2023.

2016. Stray Find. [10].
Recovered at southern end of site, on spoil from installation of Dudgeon Offshore Windfarm onshore cable:
3 Roman pottery sherds.
1 Early Saxon pottery sherd.
14 Late Saxon pottery sherds.
48 medieval pottery sherds.
2 post-medieval pottery sherds.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 February 2024.

Monument Types

  • FINDSPOT (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 7000 BC to 3001 BC)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age - 3000 BC to 1501 BC)
  • FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • INHUMATION CEMETERY (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 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

  • BELL (Undated)
  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Unknown date)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Undated)
  • BLADE (Early Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 10000 BC to 3001 BC)
  • BLADE (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
  • NOTCHED BLADE (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
  • BLADE (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
  • BLADE (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • CORE (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FLAKE (Late Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
  • RETOUCHED FLAKE (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • SCRAPER (TOOL) (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • SIDE SCRAPER (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • THUMB NAIL SCRAPER (Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age - 3000 BC to 1501 BC)
  • AXEHEAD (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • POT (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • TOILET ARTICLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BEAD (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • GIRDLE HANGER (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • POT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • SLEEVE CLASP (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • POT (Early Saxon - 450 AD to 600 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 500 AD to 550 AD)
  • POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • POT (Late Saxon to Medieval - 851 AD to 1100 AD)
  • POT (Late Saxon to Medieval - 851 AD to 1100 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FERRULE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • PERSONAL ORNAMENT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SEAL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1500 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • VESSEL (Medieval to 17th Century - 1300 AD to 1700 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1500 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1500 AD)
  • BUTTON (Medieval to 16th Century - 1500 AD to 1600 AD)
  • CLAY PIPE (SMOKING) (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • PERSONAL ORNAMENT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (16th Century to 17th Century - 1550 AD to 1700 AD)

Protected Status

  • SHINE

Sources and further reading

---Unpublished Document: Robins, P.A.. Lithic Report.
---Map: Finder's Map..
---Unpublished Document: Mackreth, D. F.. 1988. Roman brooch from Gunthorpe, Norfolk. August.
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
---Photograph: EUE 27-37, FTJ 8-9, GYJ 18-26.
<S1>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1988. Drawing of an Early Saxon wrist clasp eye plate and a copper alloy fragment of an Early Saxon annular brooch... Paper. 2:1.
<S2>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1988. Drawing of two Early Saxon copper alloy annular brooch fragments.. Film. 2:1.
<S3>Illustration: Penn, K. 1988. Drawing of a Late Bronze Age copper alloy socketed axehead blade. Paper. 1:1.
<S4>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1988. Drawing of an Early Saxon cruciform brooch fragment possibly top knob.. Paper. 2:1.
<S5>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1988. Drawing an Early Saxon cruciform brooch fragment possibly the side knob and an Early Saxon copper alloy annular brooch.. Paper. 2:1.
<S6>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1988. Drawing of an Earl Saxon copper alloy annular brooch.. Paper. 2:1.
<S7>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1989. Drawing of an Early Saxon copper alloy annular brooch fragment.. Paper. 2:1.
<S8>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1989. Drawing of an Early Saxon wrist clasp hook plate.. Film. 2:1.
<S9>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1989. Drawing of an Early Saxon bronze wrist clasp fragment possibly the eye plate.. Film. 2:1.
<S10>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1989. Drawing of an Early Saxon mount/brooch fragment.. Film. 2:1.
<S11>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1989. Drawing of an Early Saxon detachable knob from a cruciform brooch.. Film. 2:1.
<S12>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1990. Drawing of an Early Saxon bronze annular brooch fragment.. Film. 2:1.
<S12>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1989. Drawing of the head plate from an Early Saxon cruciform brooch.. Film. 2:1.
<S13>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1990. Drawing of an Early Saxon head plate and bow of a cruciform brooch.. Film. 2:1.
<S14>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1990. Drawing of the foot of an Early Saxon cruciform brooch.. Film. 2:1.
<S15>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1990. Drawing of an Early Saxon cruciform brooch.. Film. 2:1.
<S16>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1992. Drawing of an Early Saxon small long brooch.. Film. 2:1.
<S17>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1992. Drawing of an Early Saxon small long brooch.. Film. 2:1.
<S18>Illustration: Penn, K. 1992. Drawing of an Early Saxon small long brooch.. Film. 2:1.
<S19>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1992. Drawing of an Early Saxon annular brooch fragment. Film. 2:1.
<S19>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1992. Drawing of an Early Saxon cruciform brooch knob fragment.. Film. 2:1.
<S20>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1992. Drawing of an Early Saxon annular brooch fragment.. Film. 2:1.
<S21>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1992. Drawing of an Early Saxon annular brooch fragment.. Film. 2:1.
<S22>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1992. Drawing of an Early Saxon annular brooch fragment.. Film. 2:1.
<S23>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1992. Drawing of a flat undatable unidentfied object.. Film. 2:1.
<S24>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1992. Drawing of an undatable unidentfied object.. Film. 2:1.
<S25>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1992. Drawing of an Early Saxon wrist clasp and an Early Saxon annular brooch fragment.. Film. 2:1.
<S26>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1992. Drawing of an Early Saxon cruciform brooch fragment possibly a part of the head with knob.. Film. 2:1.
<S27>Illustration: Penn, K.. 1989. Drawing of an Early Saxon copper alloy annular brooch fragment.. Paper. Unknown.
<S28>Unpublished Contractor Report: Evershed, R. and Pringle, I. 2015. Archaeological Non-intrusive Survey Report: Geophysical Survey by Magnetometry, Fieldwalking and Metal Detecting for the Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm Onshore Electrical Connection, Norfolk. Allen Archaeology Ltd. AAL 2014060.

Related records - none

Find out more...

Norfolk County Council logo Heritage Lottery Fund logo

Powered by HBSMR-web and the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd, and mojoPortal CMS
© 2007 - 2025 Norfolk Historic Environment Service