Record Details
| NHER Number: | 4981 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Site of Roman inhumation cemetery |
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Summary
At least seven inhumations were discovered during construction work on a poultry farm in 1963. A subsequent excavation revealed that the cemetery was of Roman date, and several Roman finds were recovered from the skeletons, two of which had been decapitated.
Images
Location
| Grid Reference: | TL 7936 9418 |
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| Map Sheet: | TL79SE |
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| Parish: | MUNDFORD, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK |
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Full description
1963.
Burials discovered while digging trenches for lighting for poultry house.
Investigation by E.B. Green (NCM), C.P.B. Wells and Dr and Mrs T. Knowles.
At least 7 inhumations found majority uncovered by land owners wife and friends.
1 found and excavated by E.B. Green (NCM), T, Knowles and V, Knowles.
Inhumation 1 had 4th century crossbow brooch strap end and 4th century coin.
Inhumation VI had iron ring on finger.
No other grave goods found.
Inhumations IV and VI had head removed and placed beside feet.
Other human bones found scattered over a fairly large area. Graves were cut into chalk and became shallower towards east. Some other hollows found which may have been graves but no bones found. Probably disturbed by ploughing in past.
Inhumation VI had had knees removed by plough.
Scatter of animal bones and Roman sherds found in trench including 1st century rusticated ware.
Roman finds included a brooch (S1), finger ring and a strap end (S2).
See fuller notes and plan at NCM.
E.B. Green (NCM).
Details and copies of photos in file.
One edition of the OS map (details unknown) has an antiquity symbol at [1] with the annotation 'Roman Burials found.' D. Gurney (NLA) is however satisfied that the location and grid reference given by NCM is correct.
E. Rose (NLA), 19 September 2006.
Monument Types
- CEMETERY (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
- INHUMATION (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
Associated Finds
- ANIMAL REMAINS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
- BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
- COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
- FINGER RING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
- HUMAN REMAINS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
- POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
- STRAP FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
Protected Status - none
Sources and further reading
| --- | Map: Finder's Map.. |
| --- | Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TL 79 SE 13. |
| --- | Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. |
| --- | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1963. [Articles on the discovery of four skeletons at West Hall, Mundford]. |
| --- | Unpublished Document: Unknown. 1963. Inhumations from near West Hall, Mundford. |
| --- | Unpublished Document: Wells, C.P.B.. 1963. Mundford: Human Remains. |
| --- | Unpublished Document: Wells, C.. 1963. Note on human remains from West Hall, Mundford, Norfolk. |
| --- | Photograph: Unknown. 1963. [unknown]. |
| --- | Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Roman. Mundford. |
| --- | Secondary File: Secondary File. |
| <S1> | Illustration: Milligan, W. 1964. Drawing of a Roman copper alloy crossbow brooch. Card. 1:1. |
| <S2> | Illustration: Milligan, W. 1964. Drawing of a Roman copper alloy strap end. Card. 1:1. |
Related records - none
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