Record Details
| NHER Number: | 20232 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Probable Mesolithic occupation site and Early Neolithic worked flints |
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Summary
Fieldwalking undertaken as part of the Fenland Project recovered a large number of Mesolithic worked flints in this field suggesting that the site was occupied during this period. There is also some evidence for limited activity during the Early Neolithic period. This site is one of several in the area to have produced Mesolithic material, all lying on a sand island that is gradually emerging from the peat (see NHER 20233, NHER 20334 and NHER 20235).
Images - none
Location
Full description
22 and 26 March 1984. Fenland Project fieldwalking.
Site HCW 30.
On north edge of sand island spreading beside Little Ouse Rodden. Site divided by narrow peaty channel. Large spread of flints with sparse to moderate 'pot boilers' and occasional bone fragments. Max dimensions 252m E/W x 85m N/S. The flint assemblage appeared to be predominantly of Mesolithic date. Diagnostic Mesolithic pieces recovered including eight microliths (a simple obliquely blunted point, a geometric microlith and 6 microlith fragments). An Early Neolithic leaf-shaped arrowhead was also recovered and it is possible that at least some of the assemblage was also of this date.
For further details see project archive (S1) and final publication (S2). The finds are now held by the Norwich Castle Museum.
R. Silvester (NAU) March 1984. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 4 September 2013.
1989 to 1990. Further fieldwork during Fenland Evaluation Project.
Auger traverse conducted close to site to examine preservation and environmental potential of surrounding deposits.
Dossier prepared for HBMC, see copy (S3) in file.
M. Leah (NAU) August 1990
Monument Types
- FINDSPOT (Prehistoric - 1000000 BC to 42 AD)
- FINDSPOT (Early Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 10000 BC to 3001 BC)
- FINDSPOT (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
- OCCUPATION SITE (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
- FINDSPOT (Early Neolithic - 4000 BC to 3001 BC)
Associated Finds
- POT BOILER (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
- BLADE (Early Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 10000 BC? to 3001 BC?)
- BURIN (Early Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 10000 BC? to 3001 BC?)
- CORE (Early Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 10000 BC? to 3001 BC?)
- END SCRAPER (Early Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 10000 BC? to 3001 BC?)
- FLAKE (Early Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 10000 BC? to 3001 BC?)
- MICROLITH (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
- RETOUCHED BLADE (Mesolithic - 10000 BC? to 4001 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?)
- LEAF ARROWHEAD (Early Neolithic - 4000 BC to 3001 BC)
Protected Status - none
Sources and further reading
| --- | Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. |
| --- | Secondary File: Secondary File. |
| <S1> | Unpublished Document: Leah, M. D. (NAU) and Mathews, M. (NAU). 1990. Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission Dossier. |
| <S2> | Archive: Fenland Folders. |
| <S3> | Monograph: Silvester, R. J. 1991. The Fenland Project, Number 4: The Wissey Embayment and the Fen Causeway, Norfolk. East Anglian Archaeology. No 52. |
Related records
| 20235 | Related to: Mesolithic and Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age occupation sites (Monument) |
| 20234 | Related to: Probable Mesolithic occupation site (Monument) |
| 20233 | Related to: Probable Mesolithic occupation site, Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age worked flints and Roman pottery (Monument) |
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