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Record Details

NHER Number:37217
Type of record:Monument
Name:Early Saxon inhumation cemetery and multi-period finds

Summary

Metal-detecting between 2002 and 2019 recovered a number of Early Saxon brooches and other Early Saxon metal finds, suggesting that this is the site of an Early Saxon inhumation cemetery.
Other finds include prehistoric flint hammerstones, a Mesolithic blade-like flint flake; an undated whetstone; a medieval pottery sherd; Late Iron Age, Roman, medieval, and post-medieval coins; medieval and post-medieval jettons; undated silver metal-working debris and a range of other, Late Bronze Age to post-medieval metal objects. These metal finds include a Late Bronze Age socketed axehead fragment; an Iron Age belt slide or toggle; a ?Iron Age cast copper alloy unidentified object; a Late Iron Age brooch and toggle; Late Iron Age/Roman brooches; Roman brooches, finger rings, a bracelet, spoon, key handle, copper alloy annular bead, copper alloy nail and copper alloy furniture studs; a Roman/Early Saxon strap end; ?Roman/Early Saxon tweezers; a Middle Saxon brooch; a ?Middle Saxon pin; a Late Saxon finger ring, unusual strap end and folding balance; a ?Late Saxon lead unidentified object (possibly part of the mould for a stirrup-strap mount); medieval to post-medieval dress accessories; a medieval barrel padlock, horse-harness pendant, harness mount, folding balance arm and lead pilgrim badge; a medieval/post-medieval purse frame fragment, copper alloy vessel fragments and copper alloy rings; a post-medieval pin, spur, probable furniture fitting, crotal bell and lead cloth seal and an undated copper alloy stable, copper alloy ring and iron ring.

Images

  • Drawing of a Late Bronze Age socketed axe fragment from NHER 37217 © Norfolk County Council

Location

Grid Reference:Not displayed
Map Sheet:TF63NE
Parish:HEACHAM, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

Before 27 March 2002. Metal detecting.
2 Iron Age coins.
1 Roman coin.
Field shows signs of widespread and intense illegal metal-detecting.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 2 April 2002.

Before 26 November 2002. Metal detecting.
Undated molten fragment of unidentified object.
Iron Age belt slide or toggle.
1 Roman coin, a brooch and bracelet.
?Late Saxon lead object fragment - possibly a mould for a strirrup-strap mount.
Medieval buckle.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 10 January 2003. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 11 September 2023.

Before 8 March 2004. Metal detecting.
6 Late Iron Age coins
Late Iron Age/Roman Colchester one-piece brooch.
1 Roman coin, brooches, copper alloy 'bell-shaped' furniture stud and copper alloy nail.
Early Saxon brooch fragment.
Late Saxon folding balance.
1 medieval pottery sherd, buckles, annular brooch, finger ring, barrel padlock, horse-harness pendant, harness mount and lead pilgrim badge.
Medieval/post-medieval copper alloy vessel fragments and copper alloy rings.
1 post medieval jetton, belt mounts, a buckle, button, crotal bell and spur.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 15 April 2004. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 11 September 2023.

Before 24 June 2004. Metal-detecting.
Undated iron ring, silver metal-working debris and irregular plano-convex 'bun-shaped' piece of mixed metals.
2 Roman coins and a copper alloy annular bead.
Early Saxon brooches and girdle hangers.
Middle Saxon brooch.
?Middle Saxon pin.
Late Saxon strap end of very unusual form (S1).
2 medieval coins
1 post medieval coin and probable furniture fitting.
Early Saxon objects are probably indicative of an inhumation cemetery touched and disturbed by ploughing.
See lists in file.
The silver metal-working debris was disclaimed as Treasure (Ref: 2004 T248) and returned to the finder.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 17 September 2004. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 11 September 2023.

Before 10 February 2005. Metal detecting.
3 prehistoric flint hammerstones.
Undated copper alloy stable, copper alloy ring and whetstone made from fine-grained dark stone.
?Iron Age cast copper alloy unidentified object (S2).
2 Late Iron Age coins.
Late Iron Age/Roman Colchester one-piece brooch.
2 Roman coins, brooches, a finger ring, spoon and key handle.
?Roman/Early Saxon tweezers.
Early Saxon brooches, a wrist clasp and girdle hanger.
?Early Saxon cast copper alloy ring.
2 medieval coins, buckles (S3), belt mounts and belt or harness mount.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 15 April 2005. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 11 September 2023.

Before 4 November 2005. Metal detecting.
1 ?Mesolithic retouched blade-like flint flake.
1 Late Iron Age coin, a La Tène III brooch and toggle.
3 Roman coins, a brooch, finger ring and copper alloy furniture stud.
Roman/Early Saxon strap end fragment.
Early Saxon florid cruciform brooch fragment.
Medieval folding strap clasp, lace chape and folding balance arm.
Medieval/post-medieval purse pendant frame terminal.
1 post medieval coin, 1 jetton and a pin.
Fint identified by P. Robins (NCM), coins by A. Marsden (NCM) and other object by A. Rogerson (NLA). See list and descriptions in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 23 June 2006. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 16 December 2013.

December 2018-December 2019. Metal-detecting. [1].
Late Bronze Age socketed axehead fragment (S4).
Late Iron Age/Roman Colchester brooch.
Roman brooches.
Late Saxon finger ring.
Medieval strap ends, buckles, strap fitting, folding strap clasp and belt or strap mount.
Post-medieval buckle and lead cloth seal.
Information from PAS import.
The following finds are not recorded on the PAS database:
5 Roman coins.
3 medieval coins and 1 jetton.
2 post-medieval coins and 1 jetton.
See list in file for NHER 1473.
E. McDonald (HES), 17 November 2020 and P. Watkins (HES), 9 September 2023 and 28 August 2024.

Monument Types

  • FINDSPOT (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Mesolithic - 10000 BC? to 4001 BC?)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • FINDSPOT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Iron Age to Roman - 100 BC to 409 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Roman to Early Saxon - 43 AD to 650 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • INHUMATION CEMETERY (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

  • RING (Unknown date)
  • STAPLE (Unknown date)
  • WHETSTONE (Unknown date)
  • HAMMERSTONE (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • RETOUCHED FLAKE (Mesolithic - 10000 BC? to 4001 BC?)
  • SOCKETED AXEHEAD (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • BROOCH (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • BROOCH (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • COIN (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • COIN (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • COIN (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • TOGGLE (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • BROOCH (Late Iron Age to Roman - 25 AD to 60 AD)
  • BEAD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BRACELET (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 65 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • KEY (LOCKING) (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • NAIL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SPOON (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • STRAP END (Roman to Early Saxon - 43 AD to 650 AD)
  • TWEEZERS (Roman to Early Saxon - 43 AD to 650 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 55 AD to 80 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • GIRDLE HANGER (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • RING (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • SLEEVE CLASP (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • BROOCH (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • PIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • BALANCE (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • CASTING WASTE (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • MOULD (Late Saxon - 851 AD? to 1065 AD?)
  • STIRRUP (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • STRAP END (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Late Saxon - 900 AD to 1050 AD)
  • BALANCE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BARREL PADLOCK (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BROOCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS MOUNT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS PENDANT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • JETTON (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • LACE TAG (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • PILGRIM BADGE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • PURSE (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • RING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • VESSEL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1270 AD to 1450 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1270 AD to 1450 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • STRAP END (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • STRAP END (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1500 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUTTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • CROTAL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • HARNESS MOUNT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • JETTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • JETTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • PIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • RING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • SPUR (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • VESSEL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUCKLE (16th Century to 17th Century - 1550 AD to 1650 AD)
  • CLOTH SEAL (16th Century to 17th Century - 1550 AD to 1700 AD)

Protected Status

  • SHINE
  • Higher Level Stewardship

Sources and further reading

---Unpublished Document: Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 2006. Treasure Annual Report 2004. pp 47-48; No 33; Figs 33.1 and 33.2.
---Photograph: NLA. Finds Photograph.
---Photograph: I & RS. Digital finds image.
---Photograph: 2004. KVG 1, Early Saxon cruciform brooch foot plate..
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
---Article in Serial: Gurney, D. (ed.). 2007. Archaeological Finds in Norfolk in 2006. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLV Pt II pp 250-261. p 250.
---Article in Monograph: Ashley, S. 2016. Anglo-Norman elite objects from castle and countryside. Castles and the Anglo-Norman World. Proceedings of a Conference held at Norwich Castle in 2012. Davies, J. et al (eds). pp 281-298. Fig 18.7 No 44.
<S1>Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2004. Drawing of a Late Saxon strap-end.. Film. 2:1.
<S2>Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2005. Drawing of an Iron Age unidentified object.. Film. 2:1.
<S3>Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2005. Drawing of a medieval buckle.. Film. 2:1.
<S4>Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2021. Drawing of a Late Bronze Age socketed axe fragment. Find Illustration. Film. 2:1.

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