View a printer friendly version of this page

Record Details

NHER Number:3879
Type of record:Monument
Name:Roman enclosure, pit and possible road and multi-period finds

Summary

Aerial photographs taken in 1946 showed the cropmarks of a double ditched enclosure. This feature was felt to be Roman and subsequent work on the site in 1952-53 recorded Roman metalwork, coins, pottery sherds and a rubbish pit. Metal detecting on site during 1992-98 retrieved a large number of Roman coins including a hoard of minims. Fieldwalking in 1998 identified two concentrations of Roman pottery, both associated with patches of darker soil. However, despite this evidence the exact nature of this Roman site remains unclear. Other finds from this site include a small number of Mesolithic/Early Neolithic worked flints and Early Saxon, medieval and post-medieval pottery. Metal-detecting between 2020 and 2024 recovered a number of additional Roman finds, including a pottery sherd, coins, a steelyard, copper alloy hair pin and silver coin pendant.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:Not displayed
Map Sheet:TF71NE
Parish:WESTACRE, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

1946. Cropmark of double ditched enclosure.
1952-3, 1983. Much Roman metalwork coins, pottery and rubbish pit.
1985-8. Medieval and undated metalwork.
1992. Metal detector finds. Roman coins. [1].
1993. Further finds from coin hoard.
1995. Roman sherds.

1998. Fieldwalking.
Systematic fieldwalking by A. J. Davison. Field drilled and with bare weathered surface. Excellent visibility though dry.
8 worked flints of possible Mesolithic/Early Neolithic date, including 1 scraper, 1 notched blade-like flake, 1 retouched flake, 2 small blade cores, 2 blades and 1 flake.
1 Roman coin.
98 Roman pottery sherds, including 83 greyware, 7 oxidised (inc. 3 once red-slipped), 3 shelly, 4 samian,
2 East Anglian colour-coated and 1 amphora.
5 Roman tiles including 1 probable imbrex.
2 medieval unglazed pottery sherds.
2 late post-medieval stoneware sherds.
Two distinct, discrete concentrations of Roman pottery identified, both of which appeared to correspond with patches of darked soil. See finder's notes and map in file.
Coin identified by J. Davies (NCM) and flints by P. Robins (NCM); see lists in file. Other finds identified by A. Rogerson (NAU).
P. Watkins (HES), 29 November 2013.

1998. Metal detector finds. Roman, post medieval coins.

See file for further details.

Found at same time as minim hoard in 1997-98 and reported 23 December 1998.
Two Roman coins not part of hoard.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 12 May 2000.

September-November 2020. Metal-detecting. [2].
Undatable small copper alloy ingots.
24 Roman coins, a steelyard, copper alloy hairpin and pendant made from a pierced silver siliqua.
The Roman silver coin pendant was disclaimed as Treasure (Ref: 2021 T54) and returned to the finder.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 December 2020 and P. Watkins (HES), 9 September 2023.

November 2023-July 2024. Metal-detecting. [3].
16 Roman coins and 1 pottery sherd.
Post-medieval buckle.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 February 2025 and 3 July 2025.

Monument Types

  • FINDSPOT (Early Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 10000 BC to 3001 BC)
  • ENCLOSURE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PIT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • ROAD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

  • INGOT (Unknown date)
  • SPINDLE WHORL (Undated)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Undated)
  • BLADE (Early Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 10000 BC to 3001 BC)
  • BLADE CORE (Early Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 10000 BC to 3001 BC)
  • FLAKE (Early Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 10000 BC to 3001 BC)
  • NOTCHED FLAKE (Early Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 10000 BC to 3001 BC)
  • RETOUCHED FLAKE (Early Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 10000 BC to 3001 BC)
  • SCRAPER (TOOL) (Early Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 10000 BC to 3001 BC)
  • LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • INGOT (Beaker to 17th Century - 2000 BC to 1700 AD)
  • ANIMAL REMAINS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BRACELET (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)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN HOARD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • HAIR PIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • KNIFE (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)
  • ROOF TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SPEAR (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SPOON (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • STEELYARD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 100 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 114 AD to 117 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 117 AD to 125 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 196 AD to 196 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 202 AD to 210 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 228 AD to 231 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 260 AD to 378 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 275 AD to 286 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 275 AD to 286 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 275 AD to 286 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 275 AD to 402 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 307 AD to 307 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 310 AD to 315 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 321 AD to 323 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 324 AD to 330 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 326 AD to 326 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 330 AD to 335 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 330 AD to 348 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 348 AD to 353 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 353 AD to 364 AD)
  • PENDANT (Roman - 363 AD to 363 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 364 AD to 378 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 364 AD to 378 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 364 AD to 378 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 364 AD to 378 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 364 AD to 378 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 367 AD to 375 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 367 AD to 375 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 388 AD to 402 AD)
  • POT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUCKLE (17th Century - 1620 AD to 1680 AD)

Protected Status

  • SHINE
  • Higher Level Stewardship

Sources and further reading

---Aerial Photograph: RAF. RAF AP 1946 5130.
---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 - Roman. Westacre [4].
---Photograph: 1995. LCK 8-15, Coin hoard..
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
---Photograph: CVF 1-2, CZB 34-35, CYX 30-32, CZJ 1-2.
---Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
<S1>Monograph: Bland, R.. 1992. The Chalfont hoard and other Roman coin hoards.. p 207.

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 - 2026 Norfolk Historic Environment Service