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Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Record Details

NHER Number:	33771
Type of record:	Monument
Name:	'Seahenge' Early Bronze Age timber circle on Holme Beach

Summary

The site of an Early Bronze Age timber circle, possibly a monument to mark the death of an individual, the death of a tree or the culmination of a celebration or festival. The structure had an oval circuit of timber posts which surrounded an upside tree stump. It was fully excavated in 1999 by the NAU and appears on aerial photographs taken in May 1999. Up to twenty five trees were used to build it and the timbers revealed numerous Early Bronze Age toolmarks (probably the largest number recorded in Britain to date). Tree ring dating and environmental evidence has shown that it was constructed in the spring or early summer of 2049 BC in a saltmarsh. Although nothing survives at the site, the conserved timber circle is displayed in Lynn Museum. The site of the circle is located within a sensitive and fragile National Nature Reserve, Site of Special Scientific Interest and Natura 2000 site; Holme Beach should be visited with great care not to disturb nesting or wintering birds.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:	TF 71123 45263
Map Sheet:	TF74NW
Parish:	HOLME NEXT THE SEA, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

August 1998.
Timber circle surrounding tree stump in submerged forest discovered by [1].
Middle Bronze Age palstave within 15m (50 feet) of circle (now recorded under NHER 38041).
Site visited by E. Rose (NLA) with finder [1].
See brief report with plan (S1) and photographs (S2).
See also a brief report acompanied by correspondence (S17) and other internal correspondence (S64).
E. Rose (NLA), 14 August 1998.

Autumn 1998. Evaluation excavation.
Six samples from five timbers submitted for dendrochronological dating. The resultant chronology could not be dated by dendronchronological means and high precision radiocarbon dating was carried out on six samples from the tree stump.
See initial short published notes (S3), (S4), and more fully (S5).
See also additonal published note on the dating of the timber circle (S6).
Full publication alongside of the results of the subsequent excavation in Norfolk Archaeology (S7).
Photographs (S8) and slides (S9) from the evaluation are held by the Norfolk Historic Environment Record.
D. Robertson (NLA), 12 June 2006. Source references amended H. Hamilton (HES), 10 May 2022.

Radiocarbon dating indicated Bronze Age date. Accurate grid reference (centre on TF71125 45263 9c) plotted by Global Positioning System (S64).
E. Rose (NLA), 23 March 1999.

26 May 1999. NLA Air Photography.
Photographs taken of Holme timber circle and environs on first day of main excavation.
Images in the Norfolk Air Photo Library (S10).
S. Massey (NLA), 26 March 2001.

May to August 1999. Excavation.
The structure was perceived to be under threat from damage and erosion from the sea - as such it was fully excavated. This involved the removal of the timbers, a programme of stratigraphic recording and environmental sampling.
The structure comprised a elliptical circumference of fifty five large oak posts and one smaller upright timber, set around an inverted oak tree. Maximum diameter of 6.78m, with the tree set slightly southwest of the centre.
The central tree had two holes cut through the trunk on opposite sides, with a length of honeysuckle rope passed through the holes and tied in a knot.
A maximum of twenty five trees were used to build the structure. Evidence of woodworking was recovered, including felling, trimming, splitting and flattening. 422 pieces of wood debris were found, including woodchips. Toolmarks recorded from a total of fifty nine possible tools; the maximum number of tools used is probably nearer 51. The toolmarks are probably the largest assemblage of Early Bronze Age toolmarks yet recorded in Britain.
The structure was built at a single point in time. Dendrochronological dating of fifty five samples revealed that the timber circle was constructed in the spring or early summer of 2049 BC, during the Early Bronze Age.
Environmental analysis demonstrated that the structure was built on a saltmarsh. During the Bronze Age freshwater reedswamp and alder carr spread over the saltmarsh and the monument itself.
Two timbers (context 35-37 and 65) may have been the first timbers set in place. These were placed on a southwest to northeast alignment, on the approximate direction of the midsummer rising sun and midwinter setting sun. This may have been deliberate or unintentional.
All but one of the circumference timbers were placed with their bark facing outwards. The timber with the split face facing outwards must have had significance.
The structure has been interpreted in various ways. These include a monument to mark the death of an individual, the death of a tree or the regenerative failure of trees and the commeration of an event, a life or the culmination of a celebration or festival.
See published article (S3) for further information. The results of this work are also summarised in (S17).
The fragmentary remains of the timber circle are now in the King's Lynn Museum (KILLM : 2007.1100). The excavation archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.484).
See initial short published report in Norfolk Archaeology (S11).
Fully publishedd in Norfolk Archaeology (S7) and a follow-up article in British Archaeology (S12).
Excavation photographs (S13) and slides(S14) held by the Norfolk Historic Environment Record.
See also additional photographs by HER staff (S15) and other individuals [2] (S16).
Correspondence (S18) and unpublished internal documents discussing the excavation ((S19)-(S23) and (S63)) are also held by the Norfolk Historic Environment Record.
See also various newspaper articles from the year of discovery (S24)-(S34) as well as a donated press cuttings scrapbook (S35).
D. Robertson (NLA), 12 June 2006. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 27 May 2019. Source references amended H. Hamilton (HES), 10 May 2022.

May 1999. Field Survey.
See NHER 38044 for a second timber circle identified to the southeast of this site.
H. Hamilton (HES), 10 May 2022.

2000-2001. Casual finds.
Early Bronze Age button (S36), Late Bronze Age tanged chisel (S37), ?Late Bronze Age pottery, prehistoric animal bone.
See finds descriptions in file.
These finds may be the same as those recorded under NHER 39403.
S. Howard (HES), 4 November 2011. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 11 March 2021.

2000-2007. Subsequent preservation and study.
See additional publications discussing Seahenge and its environs (S38) to (S43).
See (S44) for parallel of ritual inverted tree in a pit of this date.
See also unpublished document (S45).
See also a wide range of newspaper articles regarding the monument and its fate (S46) to (S53), including preparation for display at the King's Lynn Museum.
E. Rose (NLA), 27 November 2006. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 10 May 2022.

August 2002. Norfolk NMP.
The site of a Bronze Age timber circle with central inverted tree stump which is located within the intertidal zone on Holme beach and is visible on oblique aerial photographs aerial photographs taken in 1999-2000 ((S54)-(S58)). The timber circle itself did not appear to be visible on any of the vertical aerial photographs consulted. The only aerial photographs where the structures could be discerned were 1999-2000 oblique aerial photographs taken of the excavations and site. Due to the intertidal location of these features the aerial photographs did not provide sufficient control for NMP mapping. Therefore the mapping was located using survey plans (S19) from the excavation in 1999.
H. Clare (NMP) & S. Massey (NMP), 30 August 2002.

January 2010.
Preservation of the central stump has been completed and has been reunited with the remainder of the timbers, which have been on display at the King's Lynn Museum since April 2008.
See (S59) for details.
See also additional 2010 newspaper articles relating to Seahenge (S60) and (S61).
H. White (NLA), 29 January 2010.

July 2014.
Additional press attention followed a release of new information regarding the second timber circle (NHER 38044) at Holme.
The second timber circle was identified in 1999 and was closely monitored between 2001 and 2006. Dendrochronology suveys were carried out in 2011 and 2013, and the results were released to the press in 2014. See newspaper article (S62) for related discussion of this site. See NHER 38044 for details of the second timber circle.
H. Hamilton (HES), 10 May 2022.

This record is for the timber circle excavation only. A variety of other finds previously recorded under this number are now recorded elsewhere.
See NHER 38041 for 1999 walkover survey.
See NHER 38042 for stake alignment/possible fish trap (formerly NHER 33771 context 72 with elements contexts 83 and 84).
See NHER 38043 for line of stakes formerly NHER 33771 context 85 (includes contexts 73 and 86).
See NHER 38044 for structure NHER 33771 context 126, hurdle-like fencing context 74 around four oak timbers (context 75 and 76). Also contexts 130-165 inclusive.
See NHER 38045 for findspot of planks (previously NHER 33771 contexts 77 and 78).
See NHER 38046 for possible trackway (NHER 33771 context 79, containing contexts 80-82).
See NHER 39403 for details of Bronze Age finds recovered in the immediate vicinity of the timber circle.
J. Allen (NLA), 17 February 2003. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 29 January 2024.

Monument Types

TIMBER CIRCLE (Beaker to Middle Bronze Age - 2049 BC to 1501 BC)

Associated Finds

WORKED OBJECT (Undated)

Protected Status - none

Sources and further reading

---	Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1999. TF7145/A, ABQ; TF7144/K- Q.
---	Secondary File: Secondary File.
<S1>	Unpublished Document: Rose, E.. 1998. Timber Structure at Holme next the Sea [Internal communication upon discovery]. Internal Communication.
<S2>	Photograph: Rose, E. 1998. Historic Environment Service Photography. Film JGK. Site Visits by E. Rose July-August 1998. Historic Environment Service Film Collection. film. black and white. JGK/9-15 [Site Visit Sea Henge].
<S3>	Article in Serial: Denison, S.. 1998. News.. British Archaeology. December.
<S4>	Article in Serial: Gurney, D. and Penn, K. (eds). 1999. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk 1998. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLIII Pt II pp 369-387. p 375.
<S5>	Article in Serial: Brennand, M. 1999. The Timber Circle at Holme-next-the-Sea. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLIII Pt II pp 339-340.
<S6>	Article in Serial: Bayliss, A., Groves, C., McCormac, G., Baillie, M., Brown, D. & Brennand, M. 1999. Precise dating of the Norfolk timber circle.. Nature. Vol 402, p 479.
<S7>	Article in Serial: Brennand, M. and Taylor, M. 2003. The Survey and Excavation of a Bronze Age Timber Circle at Holme-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, 1998-9. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society. Vol 69 pp 1-84.
<S8>	Photograph: Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 1998. Norfolk Archaeological Unut Photography. Films KKB-KKE. Evaluation at Seahenge, Holme-next-the-Sea. Historic Environment Service Film Collection. film. black and white. KKB-KKE.
<S9>	Slide: Various. Slide. NHER 33771: Nos 1-162.
<S10>	Oblique Aerial Photograph: Various. ? - 2020. Norfolk Air Photo Library: Oblique Collection. TF7145/A-AZ; 26-MAY-1999 (NLA 395/JPJ,JPK, JPL, JZN).
<S11>	Article in Serial: Gurney, D. and Penn, K. (eds). 2000. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk 1999. Norfolk Archaeology. XLIII Pt III pp 521-543. p 528.
<S12>	Article in Serial: Brennand, M.. 2004. This is why we dug Seahenge. British Archaeology. No 78.
<S13>	Photograph: Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 1999. Norfolk Archaeological Unit Photography. Films KKF-KKP. Excavation at Seahenge, Holme-next-the-Sea. Historic Environment Service Film Collection. KKF-KKP.
<S14>	Slide: Various. Slide. NHER 33771: Nos 163-939.
<S15>	Photograph: Rose, E. 1999. Historic Environment Service Photography. Film JJY. Site Visits by E. Rose May-June 1999. Historic Environment Service Film Collection. film. black and white. JJY/10-11.
<S16>	Photograph: Easton, J. 1999. Photographs of Seahenge. print. colour.
<S17>	Correspondence: Gurney, D.; Rose, E.. 1998. Letter from Norfolk Landscape Archaeology to English Heritage accompanied by initial report on the discovery of a timber structure ar Holme next the Sea. 13 August 1998.
<S18>	Correspondence: Funnell, B. 1999. Letter from the University of East Anglia to the Norfolk Archaeological Unit regarding research on Holocene sedimentation along the North Norfolk Coast. 15 January 1999.
<S19>	Unpublished Document: Brennand, M.. 1999. Survey plots from Holme timber circle excavation.
<S20>	Unpublished Report: Murphy, P. 1999. The palaeoenvironmental context of the Holme-next-the-Sea timber structure: notes for the AMAC visit, 11th June 1999.
<S21>	Unpublished Document: Gurney, D.. 1999. Holme next the Sea Timber Circle Forum. 16 September 1999 Meeting Notes.
<S22>	Unpublished Document: Groves, C.. 1999. Dendrochronological Interim Statement - Holme-next-the-Sea.
<S23>	Drawing: [Unknown]. [unknown]. Holme next Sea: Copy of drawing of numbered timbers. Paper.
<S24>	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1999. [Articles on the potential for preserving 'Seahenge'].
<S25>	Newspaper Article: Lynn News. 1999. Prehistoric date for Holme Henge?. 23 February.
<S26>	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1999. [Articles on the excavation of 'Seahenge'].
<S27>	Newspaper Article: The Daily Telegraph. 1999. Fear of New Age invasion at Bronze Age tree circle. 24 May.
<S28>	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1999. [Articles on the court injunction to prevent English Heritage from removing 'Seahenge'].
<S29>	Newspaper Article: Lynn News. 1999. 'Magic of the circle has been broken'. 20 July.
<S30>	Newspaper Article: Lynn News. 1999. Bid to unlock 4000-yr-old mystery. 19 November.
<S31>	Newspaper Article: Lynn News. 1999. Holme Henge a 4000,yr-old religious temple, say experts. 3 December.
<S32>	Newspaper Article: Lynn News. 1999. Homage to oak henge. 22 January.
<S33>	Newspaper Article: Lynn News. 1999. Holme gives up its watery secret. 12 January.
<S34>	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1999. [Articles and letters to the editor on the reason for 'Seahenge' being built].
<S35>	Unpublished Document: 1999. Holme-next-the-Sea Scrapbook.
<S36>	Illustration: Holness, A.. 2001. Drawing of a Bronze Age button.. Film. 2:1.
<S37>	Illustration: Holness, A.. 2001. Drawing of a Bronze Age chisel.. Film. 2:1.
<S38>	Publication: Champion, M.. 2000. Seahenge, A Contemporary Chronicle.
<S39>	Monograph: Canti, M. G. 2001. Aspects of Sediment Diagenesis and Taphonomy at Holme-next-the-Sea, Norfolk. English Heritage Centre for Archaeology Report. 79/2001.
<S40>	Monograph: Pryor, F.. 2002. Seahenge: A Quest for Life and Death in Bronze Age Britain..
<S41>	Monograph: Groves, C. 2002. Dendrochronological Analysis of a Timber Circle at Holme-next-the-Sea, Norfolk. English Heritage Centre for Archaeology Report. 6/2002.
<S42>	Publication: Watson, C.. 2005. Seahenge: An Archaeological Conundrum.
<S43>	Moving Image: Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service. 2007. Seahenge: A Journey Through Time.. WMA.
<S44>	Monograph: Ellis, C.. 2004. Prehistoric Ritual Complex at Eynesbury.. East Anglian Archaeology. Occasional Paper 17.
<S45>	Unpublished Document: Green, F.. 2006. Holme Next sea: A lower peat and The recording of the fallen trees in the peat.
<S46>	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1999-2000. [Articles and letters to the editor on public opinion on whether 'Seahenge' should be moved].
<S47>	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1999-2001. [General articles on 'Seahenge'].
<S48>	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1999-2001. [Articles on the scientific work carried out on 'Seahenge' carried out at Flag Fen].
<S49>	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1999-2001. [Articles on the proposals for how to preserve 'Seahenge' whether through reburial or in a display].
<S50>	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2000. [Articles on the ownership of 'Seahenge'].
<S51>	Newspaper Article: [Unknown]. 2001. My week, Maisie Taylor. January.
<S52>	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2002. [Articles on the preparing of Lynn Museum for displaying 'Seahenge'].
<S53>	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2004. Relic linked to seahenge. 13 August.
<S54>	Aerial Photograph: 2000. NMR TF7145/6 (NMR 21053/05) 13-NOV-2000.
<S55>	Aerial Photograph: 2000. NMR TF7145/7 (NMR 21053/06) 13-NOV-2000.
<S56>	Aerial Photograph: 1999. SMR TF7145/AW- AX (NLA/395/JZW12-13) 26-MAY-1999.
<S57>	Aerial Photograph: 1999. SMR TF7145/A (NLA/395/JPJ1) 26-MAY-1999.
<S58>	Aerial Photograph: 1999. SMR TF7145/D-E (NLA/395/JPJ4-5) 26-MAY-1999.
<S59>	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2010. [Articles on the display of 'Seahenge' at Lynn Museum].
<S60>	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2010. Unique to Norfolk. 16 March.
<S61>	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2010. Object lessons in Norfolk's rich heritage. 29 May.
<S62>	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2014. Second timber circle dates to the same time as the ancients built Seahenge. 2 July.
<S63>	Unpublished Document: Andrews, J. [unknown]. Notes on Holme Erratics.
<S64>	Correspondence: Brennand, M. 1998. Letter from the Norfolk Archaeological Unit to the Historic Environment Record advising of updated details on the initial finds at Holme-next-the-Sea. 9 November 1998.