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Record Details

NHER Number:36629
Type of record:Find Spot
Name:Site of probable Early Saxon inhumation cemetery and multi-period finds

Summary

Metal-detecting at this location between 2001 and 2024 recovered a probable Neolithic flint projectile point; a Roman tile fragment; Late Iron Age (Roman issue), Roman, Middle Saxon, medieval and post-medieval coins; medieval and post-medieval jettons; post-medieval tokens and a range of other, undated and Late Bronze Age to post-medieval metal objects. These metal finds include an undated copper alloy ring, unidentified copper alloy object and lead weights; Late Bronze Age socketed axehead fragments and a chisel; a Late Iron Age probable vessel mount, shield clip or mount from thin-edged object; Late Iron Age/Roman brooches; Roman brooches, a finger ring, lock pin, probable military harness pendant fragment and copper alloy pins; potentially Roman copper alloy metal-working scrap; a Roman/Early Saxon propeller-shaped 'military' belt stiffener; numerous Early Saxon brooch fragments and an Early Saxon wrist clasp; Middle Saxon pins; a Middle/Late Saxon strap end; a Late Saxon strap end; medieval and post-medieval dress accessories; a medieval horse-harness pendant, folding balance arm, foot from folding candle holder, hooked attachment for spur leather, thimble, copper alloy casing from globular steelyard weight and copper alloy seal matrix; a medieval/post-medieval scabbard chape, coin weight, silver probable badge and lead stylus or writing lead; post-medieval book clasps, knife fragments, a sword-belt mount, coin weight, dagger quillon, handle from unidentified object, mount, bell fragments, lead cloth seal, lead tap and lead possible vessel fragment and a post-medieval/modern copper alloy toy cat.
The nature and quantity of the Early Saxon finds suggests this was the site of an Early Saxon inhumation cemetery.

Images

  • Early Saxon cruciform brooch from NHER 36629 © Norfolk County Council
  • Early Saxon small-long brooch from NHER 36629 © Norfolk County Council
  • Early Saxon small-long brooch from NHER 36629 © Norfolk County Council
  • Iron Age mount or clip from NHER 36629 © Norfolk County Council
  • Roman/Early Saxon harness pendant from NHER 36629 © Norfolk County Council
  • Drawing of Late Bronze Age socketed axehead from NHER 36629 © Norfolk County Council

Location

Grid Reference:Not displayed
Map Sheet:TG01SE
Parish:MATTISHALL, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK

Full description

August 2001. Metal-detecting.
Undated lead weights.
Roman Colchester-type brooch.
Early Saxon cruciform brooch.
Post-medieval lead ?vessel fragment.
See lists in file.
S. Ashley (NLA), 3 October 2001.

July 2002. Metal-detecting.
1 medieval coin.
See list in file with National Grid Reference.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 6 September 2002.

February 2003. Metal-detecting.
Early Saxon small-long brooch fragment.
Late Saxon strap end.
?Medieval ?buckle pin.
See list in file with National Grid References.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 31 March 2003.

March 2003. Metal-detecting.
Late Bronze Age socketed axehead fragment (S1).
Late Iron Age/Roman bow brooch fragment.
1 Roman coin, a zoomorphic brooch and lock pin.
Roman/Early Saxon propeller-shaped 'military' belt stiffener.
Early Saxon long brooch fragment.
Middle Saxon pin.
3 medieval coins, 1 jetton, a buckle, strap end and horse-harness pendant.
3 post-medieval coins, 2 jettons, 2 tokens, belt mounts, a book clasp, dagger quillon and bell fragments.
See lists in file with National Grid References.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 6 May 2003. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 6 February 2024.

November/December 2003. Metal-detecting.
Late Bronze Age socketed axehead fragment (S2).
1 Late Iron Age coin (Roman issue republican denarius).
Medieval annular brooch.
1 post-medieval coin and 1 jetton.
See lists with grid references in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 7 January 2004.

December 2003 to January 2004. Metal-detecting.
Roman Trumpet brooch fragment.
Early Saxon side knob from cruciform brooch.
Middle/Late Saxon strap end.
1 medieval coin.
2 post-medieval coins.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 2 February 2004. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 6 February 2024.

January 2004. Metal-detecting.
Late Bronze Age chisel (S3).
3 Roman coins and a Trumpet brooch.
Early Saxon cruciform brooch and a wrist clasp.
2 medieval coins, buckles, belt mounts and a copper alloy seal matrix.
Medieval/post-medieval coin weight.
2 post-medieval coins, a buckle, handle from unidentified object and lead tap.
Early Saxon finds may well be indicative of an inhumation cemetery.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 6 March 2004. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 6 February 2024.

February 2004. Metal-detecting.
Undatable unidentified copper alloy object.
1 Roman coin, a Colchester two-piece brooch and a finger ring.
Early Saxon side knob from cruciform brooch.
2 Middle Saxon coins.
1 medieval coin.
1 post-medieval token.
See lists and (S3) in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 5 April 2004. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 6 February 2024.

March 2004. Metal-detecting.
Probably Neolithic flint projectile point.
1 Roman coin.
1 post-medieval jetton.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 6 May 2004.

September 2004. Metal-detecting.
Undatable copper alloy ring.
1 Roman coin.
Early Saxon side knob from cruciform brooch.
Middle Saxon pin fragments.
5 medieval coins and a folding balance arm.
Medieval/post-medieval lead stylus or writing lead.
1 post-medieval coin and a book clasp.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 4 November 2004. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 6 February 2024.

October 2004. Metal-detecting.
Late Iron Age/Roman Colchester-type one-piece brooch.
?Roman copper alloy metal-working scrap.
Early Saxon small-long brooch.
1 medieval coin, an annular brooch and lace chape.
1 post-medieval coin and a lead cloth seal.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 27 November 2004. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 6 February 2024.

August 2005. Metal-detecting.
2 Roman coins and a tile fragment.
Early Saxon small-long brooches and a side knob from cruciform brooch.
3 medieval coins, a buckle, belt mount and foot from folding candle holder (S7).
1 post-medieval coin and a coin weight.
See lists in file.
The folding candle holder was initially identified as an unusual medieval strap end - it was reidentified by S. Ashley (HES), 29 January 2016.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 2 October 2005. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 1 February 2016 and P. Watkins (HES), 6 February 2024.

September 2005.
Roman Dolphin brooch.
1 post-medieval coin.
Identified by S. Ashley (NLA).
P. Watkins (HES), 6 February 2024.

June/July 2009. Metal-detecting.
Early Saxon cruciform brooch.
3 medieval coins, 1 jetton, buckle pin, gilt pin from buckle or disc-on-tongue brooch and lace chape.
Post-medieval knife end stop and sword-belt mount.
See lists in file.
E. Darch (NLA), 24 August 2009. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 6 February 2024.

July 2009. Metal-detecting
4 Roman coins.
Medieval buckle.
1 post-medieval coin.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 25 September 2009.

3 March 2010. Metal-detecting.
Roman probable military harness pendant fragment.
Early Saxon small-long brooch fragments and cruciform brooch.
1 medieval coin.
1 post-medieval coin.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 22 April 2010. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 6 February 2024.

12 December 2010. Metal-detecting.
Late Iron Age/Roman Langton Down brooch.
Medieval/post-medieval scabbard chape.
1 post-medieval token.
See lists in file.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 6 February 2024.

August-September 2011. Metal-detecting.
1 medieval coin, a buckle, belt mount, hooked attachment for spur leather, thimble and copper alloy casing from globular steelyard weight.
1 post-medieval coin and 1 jetton.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (HES), 30 September 2011. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 6 February 2024.

July 2012. Metal-detecting.
Late Iron Age probable vessel mount, shield clip or mount from mirror or another thin-edged object (S6).
Medieval buckle and strap clasp
Post-medieval mount.
See descriptions in file.
E. Darch (HES), August 2012.

August 2012. Metal-detecting.
1 medieval coins.
1 post-medieval jetton.
A. Marsden (HES), 16 October 2012.

August 2020. Metal-detecting. [1].
3 Roman coins.
Early Saxon Cruciform brooch fragment.
4 medieval coins.
3 post-medieval coins.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 March 2023.

August-September 2021. Metal-detecting. [2].
Late Bronze Age socketed axehead fragment (S8).
1 Roman coin.
1 medieval coin.
Medieval/post-medieval silver probable badge.
1 post-medieval coin.
Information from PAS import.
The medieval/post-medieval silver probable badge was submitted for consideration as Treasure (Ref: 2022 T263).
P. Watkins (HES), 18 November 2023 and 20 May 2024.

February-March 2022. Metal-detecting. [3].
1 Late Iron Age coin (Roman issue republican denarius).
Late Iron Age/Roman Colchester one-piece brooch.
2 Roman coins and 2 copper alloy pins.
4 medieval coins and 3 buckles.
2 post-medieval coins, a buckle and end cap or stop from a scale-tang knife.
Post-medieval/modern copper alloy toy cat.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 20 December 2023 and 22 June 2025.

February 2024. Metal-detecting. [4].
2 medieval coins.
2 post-medieval jettons.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 February 2025.

August 2024. Metal-detecting. [5].
Medieval annular brooch.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 23 February 2025.

Monument Types

  • FINDSPOT (Unknown date)
  • FINDSPOT (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 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 (Roman - 43 AD to 409 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 (Middle Saxon to Late Saxon - 651 AD to 1065 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)
  • FINDSPOT (Post Medieval to Late 20th Century - 1540 AD to 2000 AD)

Associated Finds

  • RING (Unknown date)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Unknown date)
  • WEIGHT (Unknown date)
  • ARROWHEAD (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • CHISEL (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • SOCKETED AXEHEAD (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • SOCKETED AXEHEAD (Late Bronze Age - 1000 BC to 701 BC)
  • BROOCH (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • MOUNT (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
  • SHIELD (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
  • VESSEL (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
  • COIN (Late Iron Age - 48 BC to 48 BC)
  • BROOCH (Late Iron Age to Roman - 25 AD to 75 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • HARNESS PENDANT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • LOCK (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 50 AD to 260 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 50 AD to 260 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 117 AD to 117 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 286 AD to 293 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 297 AD to 305 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 307 AD to 307 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • SLEEVE CLASP (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 475 AD to 525 AD)
  • PIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • STRAP END (Middle Saxon to Late Saxon - 651 AD to 1065 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BALANCE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BROOCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • CANDLE HOLDER (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN WEIGHT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS PENDANT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • JETTON (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SCABBARD (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • SEAL MATRIX (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SPUR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STEELYARD WEIGHT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP END (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STYLUS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • THIMBLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1180 AD to 1185 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1180 AD to 1189 AD)
  • BROOCH (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1300 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1205 AD to 1230 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1236 AD to 1242 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1251 AD to 1272 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1275 AD to 1275 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1282 AD to 1289 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1303 AD to 1305 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1306 AD to 1307 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1307 AD to 1310 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1344 AD to 1351 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1450 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1450 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1351 AD to 1352 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1422 AD to 1461 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1445 AD to 1454 AD)
  • BADGE (Medieval to 16th Century - 1450 AD to 1550 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1477 AD to 1480 AD)
  • KNIFE (Medieval to 16th Century - 1500 AD to 1600 AD)
  • BELL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BOOK FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN WEIGHT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • DAGGER (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • JETTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • KNIFE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • MOUNT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • STYLUS (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • SWORD (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • TAP (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • TOKEN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • VESSEL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • JETTON (16th Century - 1550 AD to 1584 AD)
  • JETTON (16th Century - 1550 AD to 1584 AD)
  • JETTON (16th Century to 17th Century - 1550 AD to 1650 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1553 AD to 1554 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1554 AD to 1558 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1565 AD to 1565 AD)
  • BUCKLE (16th Century to 17th Century - 1575 AD to 1700 AD)
  • JETTON (16th Century to 17th Century - 1586 AD to 1635 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1594 AD to 1594 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1594 AD to 1596 AD)
  • TOKEN (17th Century - 1658 AD to 1658 AD)
  • COIN (17th Century - 1671 AD to 1671 AD)
  • TOY (17th Century to 19th Century - 1700 AD to 1900 AD)
  • JETTON (18th Century - 1742 AD to 1768 AD)

Protected Status - none

Sources and further reading

---Photograph: NLA. Finds Photograph.
---Photograph: NCC Find Identification and Recording Service. c. 1975-2000. HES Find Polaroid Collection. HES Find Polaroid Collection. polaroid. black and white.
---Photograph: 2003. KTQ 30-33, Late saxon strap end..
---Photograph: 2003. KTQ 34, Early Saxon small long brooch fragment..
---Photograph: 2003. KTS 1-2, Romano British/Early Saxon military belt stiffner..
---Photograph: 2003. KTS 3, Early Saxon brooch fragment..
---Photograph: 2003. KTS 4, Middle Saxon pin..
---Photograph: 2004. KVB 32-33, Middle/Late Saxon strapend..
---Photograph: 2004. KVB 34, Early Saxon brooch side knob..
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
<S1>Illustration: Ashley, S.. 2003. Drawing of a Late Bronze Age socketed axe fragment.. Film. 1:1.
<S2>Illustration: Ashley, S.. 2003. Drawing of a Late Bronze Age socketed axe fragment.. Film. 1:1.
<S3>Illustration: Ashley, S.. 2004. Drawing of a Late Bronze Age chisel.. Film. 1:1.
<S4>Map: Finder's Map..
<S5>Photograph: I & RS. Digital finds image.
<S6>Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2012. Drawing of a Late Iron Age copper alloy probable shield clip or vessel mount. Find Illustration. Film. 2:1.
<S7>Illustration: Ashley, S. 2016. Drawing of a medieval Limoges copper alloy folding candle holder. Film. 2:1.
<S8>Illustration: Gibbons, J. 2022. Drawing of Late Bronze Age socketed axehead fragment. Find Illustration. Film. 1:1.

Related records - none

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