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Record Details

NHER Number:16841
Type of record:Monument
Name:Possible Early Saxon cremation cemetery and multi-period metal objects

Summary

Aerial photographs of this area taken in 1977 showed the cropmarks of a possible Bronze Age ring ditch.
Metal-detecting between 1991 and 2014 recovered prehistoric worked flint; Roman, Late Saxon, medieval and post-medieval pottery sherds; medieval root tile fragments; Roman coins; medieval and post-medieval tokens; post-medieval jettons and undated and Roman to post-medieval metal objects. The metal finds include an undated ferrule, copper alloy rings and a weight; Roman brooches, copper alloy nails, a furniture fitting, tweezers and surgical instrument; Early Saxon brooches, buckles, clasps, tweezers, rings, a girdle hanger and weight; a Middle Saxon brooch; a Middle/Late Saxon strap-end and brooch; a Late Saxon brooch, buckle, stirrup fragment, stirrup terminal and tweezers; medieval to post-medieval dress accessories; medieval brooches, finger rings and a lead ampulla; a medieval/post-medieval copper alloy ring and a post-medieval cloth seal and furniture fitting.
The quantity of Early Saxon artefacts suggests that a cemetery might have been situated here. Some of these finds were also burnt suggesting either the presence of a hearth or that cremations were interred here.

Images

  • An Early Saxon radiate brooch. © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service
  • Middle Saxon Heilgenfibula. © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service and S. White
  • Middle Saxon brooch from NHER 16841 © Norfolk County Council
  • Late Saxon stirrup from NHER 16841 © Norfolk County Council
  • Romano-British nail from NHER 16841 © Norfolk County Council
  • Medieval harness pendant from NHER 16841 © Norfolk County Council

Location

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

Full description

19 July 1977. NAU aerial photographs.
Context 1: cropmark of ring ditch to the northwest of Westacre. Approximately 24m diameter.
J. Bown (NAU) 28 November 1980.

1991. Found with metal detector.
Early Saxon metalwork suggesting cemetery; finds from whole field.
Pottery collected by NAU staff, held by NCM. Metalwork roughly co-incident with ring ditch.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 18 March 1992

1991. Further metal detector finds.
Early Saxon (S2) and medieval metalwork, Roman coins.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 25 November 1991

September 1992. Metal detector finds.
Further Early Saxon, Roman, Late Saxon and medieval finds.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 3 November 1992.

September 1993. Metal detector finds.
Roman, Early Saxon and medieval metalwork.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 9 November 1993.

1994.
Middle Saxon/Late Saxon brooch found, (S3).
A. Rogerson (NLA) 31 March 1994.

1995-96. Fieldwalking survey by [2]. Survey field 3.
Late Saxon, medieval, post medieval sherds.
E. Rose (NLA) 22 July 1996.

September 1996. Metal detector finds.
Further Early Saxon objects from same area as before and Roman coin.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 4 November 1996.

See full lists in file.

Before 24 October 2005. Metal detecting.
Medieval strap fitting.
See description in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 24 January 2006.

Before 23 May 2007. Metal-detecting.
1 Roman, 1 medieval and 1 post medieval coin.
Roman, Early Saxon (S4), Middle Saxon, Late Saxon (S5), medieval and post medieval and undatable metal objects.
These finds include a distorted medieval silver finger ring.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 3 July 2007. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 14 May 2020.

Probable site of Late Saxon and medieval settlement.
See (S1).
D. Robertson (NLA), 28 July 2008.

Metal detecting, before 7 July 2008.
Undatable stone weight, Romano British/Early Saxon, Early Saxon and undatable metal objects.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 17 September 2008.

Roman/Early Saxon buckle found before 7 July 2008 is now identified as Late Saxon, (S6).
A. Rogerson (HES), 4 April 2012.

June 2012. Magnetometry survey.
Further details to follow.
A. Beckham (HES), 25 June 2012.

July-December 2014. Metal-detecting. [3].
Finds recorded on the PAS database:
Undated copper alloy rings.
Roman brooch and copper alloy nails.
Middle/Late Saxon strap-end and brooch.
Late Saxon stirrup terminal.
Medieval strap-ends, a strap fitting, strap loop, strap plate, harness pendant and a buckle.
Medieval/post-medieval copper alloy ring and a hooked tag.
Post-medieval buckles, a cloth seal, furniture mount and a dress clasp eye-plate.
Finds identified by HES but not recorded on the PAS:
5 Roman coins.
5 medieval coins.
1 post-medieval coin and 1 jetton.
A. Beckham (HES), 25 February 2015.

Monument Types

  • FINDSPOT (Unknown date)
  • RING DITCH (Undated)
  • FINDSPOT (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
  • RING DITCH (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • CEMETERY (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • CREMATION (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • HEARTH (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)
  • SETTLEMENT (Late Saxon to Medieval - 851 AD to 1539 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

  • FERRULE (Undated)
  • RING (Unknown date)
  • WEIGHT (Unknown date)
  • LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • SCABBARD (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • NAIL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SURGICAL INSTRUMENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • TOILET ARTICLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • TWEEZERS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 75 AD to 120 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 200 AD to 299 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 300 AD to 399 AD)
  • BROOCH (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • GIRDLE HANGER (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • RING (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • RING (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)
  • TEXTILE (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • TWEEZERS (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • WEIGHT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • BROOCH (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • BROOCH (Middle Saxon to Late Saxon - 800 AD to 900 AD)
  • STRAP END (Middle Saxon to Late Saxon - 800 AD to 900 AD)
  • BROOCH (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • STIRRUP (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • TWEEZERS (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • VESSEL (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • STIRRUP (Late Saxon to Medieval - 1000 AD to 1100 AD)
  • AMPULLA (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BROOCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BROOCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BROOCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • CLASP (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • KEY (LOCKING) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • PENDANT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • PERSONAL ORNAMENT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • PIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • RING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • ROOF TILE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SCABBARD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • TOKEN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • TWEEZERS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS PENDANT (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1200 AD)
  • STRAP END (Medieval - 1270 AD to 1450 AD)
  • STRAP END (Medieval - 1270 AD to 1450 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)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1400 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1330 AD to 1450 AD)
  • RING (Medieval to 16th Century - 1350 AD to 1600 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Medieval - 1350 AD to 1450 AD)
  • DRESS HOOK (Medieval to 16th Century - 1500 AD to 1600 AD)
  • BUTTON (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)
  • DRESS FASTENER (DRESS) (16th Century to 17th Century - 1540 AD to 1700 AD)
  • JETTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • TOKEN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • WEIGHT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BUCKLE (16th Century to 17th Century - 1575 AD to 1700 AD)
  • CLOTH SEAL (16th Century to 17th Century - 1575 AD to 1700 AD)
  • BUCKLE (16th Century to 18th Century - 1600 AD to 1720 AD)
  • FURNITURE FITTING (17th Century to 18th Century - 1660 AD to 1720 AD)

Protected Status

  • SHINE
  • Higher Level Stewardship

Sources and further reading

---Publication: Department for Culture, Media and Sport and British Museum. 2009. Portable Antiquities and Treasure Annual Report 2007. pp 242 and 251.
---Aerial Photograph: TF 7715A,B.
---Article in Serial: Ashley, S. and Rogerson, A. 1992. Three Radiate Brooches and a Small-Long Brooch from Norfolk. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLI Pt III pp 361-362.
---Photograph: NLA. Finds Photograph.
---Photograph: I & RS. Digital finds image.
---Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---Photograph: 1991. LBS 1-3, Early Saxon radiate brooch..
---Photograph: 1991. LBX 24-25, Medieval ring brooch..
---Photograph: 1991. LBX 26-27, Brooch fragment..
---Photograph: 1991. LBX 28-30, Decorative object..
---Photograph: 1991. LBX 31-33, Middle/Late Saxon wrist clasp..
---Photograph: 1991. LBX 34-35, Annular brooch..
---Photograph: 1991. LBL 1-2, Two brooch fragments..
---Photograph: 1991. LBL 3, Brooch fragment..
---Photograph: 1991. LBL 4-6, Decorative object..
---Photograph: 1991. LBL 7-8, Two brooch fragments..
---Photograph: 1991. LBL 9-10, Middle/Late Saxon wrist clasp..
---Photograph: 1991. LBL 11-12, Decorative plate..
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
---Photograph: 1994. LEF 11-16, Middle/Late Saxon brooch..
<S1>Article in Serial: Davison, A. 2003. The Archaeology of the Parish of West Acre. Part 1: Field Survey Evidence. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLIV Pt II pp 202-221.
<S2>Illustration: Ashley, S.. 1991. Drawing of an Early Saxon radiate brooch.. Film. 2:1.
<S3>Illustration: White, S.. 1994. Drawing of a Middle/Late Saxon brooch.. Card. 2:1.
<S4>Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2007. Drawing of an Early Saxon equal-armed brooch.. Film. 2:1.
<S5>Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2007. Drawing of a Late Saxon mount probably from a stirrup.. Film. 2:1.
<S6>Illustration: Gibbons, J.. 2008. Drawing of a Late Saxon buckle plate. Find Illustration. Film. 2:1.

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