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Record Details

NHER Number:8675
Type of record:Monument
Name:Caister on Sea Late Roman 'Saxon Shore' fort and Middle to Late Saxon cemetery

Summary

This Roman 'Saxon Shore' fort was probably constructed in the early 200s AD, and was one of a chain of eleven forts between Brancaster on The Wash and Portchester in Hampshire which were under the command of the 'Count of the Saxon Shore', a military commander whose forts and units are listed in the 'Notitia Dignitatum', a document compiled around AD 395. These forts were built at different times, and the earliest forts (Brancaster, Caister-on-Sea and Reculver in Kent) may have been more to do with trade than defence. In the late 200s, further forts were built (e.g. Burgh Castle), and these probably had a more defensive role, protecting the coastline against barbarian raiders.
The surrounding ditch, wall and rampart enclose about 3.5 hectares, and excavations have demonstrated that there are buildings, a possible corn drying kiln and a water tank. Finds include pottery, metalwork, coin hoards and some artefacts suggest occupation by cavalry, and also the presence of women and children. The fort appears to have been disused in the late 4th century AD.
Middle Saxon finds suggest that there was high status occupation in this area, and the fort may have been or been near to the site of Fursa's monastery as mentioned by Bede, although the fort at Burgh Castle is another possible location for this. At least two Middle to Late Saxon burials have been found inside the fort, while there was an extensive cemetery of this date to the south and north. Prehistoric finds from the site include a flint arrowhead, a hoard of Late Bronze Age gold and prehistoric pottery. Three ring ditches, possible Bronze Age barrows, have been also been identified.
The site is open to the public, and the Roman building is the only accessible Roman building in East Anglia.

Images

  • The remains of buildings within the Roman fort at Caister on Sea © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service
  • Part of a Roman slate cosmetic palette found in Caister-on-Sea © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service. NWHCM 1972.607.1:A
  • A Roman silver denarius coin of Julia Maesa from Caister-On-Sea. © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service. NWHCM 1947.171.575:A
  • A Roman mortarium from Caistor St Edmund. © Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service. NWHCM 1961.193.A1:A

Location

Grid Reference:TG 51859 12232
Map Sheet:TG51SW
Parish:CAISTER ON SEA, GREAT YARMOUTH, NORFOLK

Full description

Roman 'Saxon Shore' Fort and Early Saxon/Middle Saxon occupation. Earlier material includes three ring ditches, Bronze Age gold hoard, Iron Age harness. Also medieval finds.

NOTE: because of the complexity of this record the finds listed below are structured in this way:
Roman casual finds; Early Saxon/Middle Saxon excavations; Early Saxon/Middle Saxon casual finds; pre Roman finds; medieval/post-medieval finds; Roman excavations.
NOTE: Records from 1997 and later do not follow this structure, but are listed chronologically.

Roman casual finds:
19th century undated. Various Roman finds, all NCM.
1837. Pit lined with Roman tile. Skeletons, coins, sherds, summary of original report in file.
1843. Roman pot found.
1851. Roman pot found; drawing (S1) in file.
1851 to 1854. Casual find of Roman kiln. Sketch in file. Context 3, but probable confusion with site NHER 8678.
1853 or 1855. Found in building reservoir. Roman figurines, walls, coin. Finds NCM. Letters in file.

1855-c.1870. Stray Find.
See (S47) for a list of coins obtained from labourers that had been "…turned up by the plough in the fields in the vicinity of the reservoir..." between 1855 and c.1870. This article also summarises a number of the other discoveries made in the area during the same time period.
P. Watkins (HES), 31 August 2020.

Before February 1932. Casual Find.
Recovered during roadworks on Filby Road, near the church, at a depth of approximately four feet below the modern road.
1 silver denarius of Julia Mesa.
Information from newspaper article (S48).
Deposited with the Norwich Museums Service (NWHCM: 1947.171.575).
Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 8 February 2022.

1932 to 1935. Found in construction of Brooke Avenue. Roman building material, coins and pottery (see also Early Saxon section).
1934. Find of Roman tile.
1935. Roman walls cut by drain trenches. Photograph in file (S2).
1936. Context 6. Casual find Roman coin hoard. Finds NCM and personal possession.
1940. Find Roman sherds.
1946. Find Roman coin hoard in jar. Context 2. List of coins in file.
1949. Find of Roman coin.
1951. Find of Roman coin and sherds. Finds NCM.
1951. Find of Roman brooch.
1954. Context 5. Found in digging grave in cemetery. Roman inhumation.
1957. Context 8. Reported find of mosaic.
1959. Roman coin find. Finds NCM.
1965. Found when digging fishpond in Clifford Avenue. Roman sherds and finds. Finds NCM.
1969. Find of metalwork. Sketch (S1) in file.
1969. Finds of coins. Finds NCM.
1970. Find of coin. Find NCM.
1971 to 1979. Roman casual finds
1972. Finds made in digging trench. Roman pottery and building material. Finds NCM.
1972. Find of scatter of Roman sherds. Finds NCM.
1975. Find of coin.
1976. Find of steelyard weight, (S40).
About 1975. Found in digging foundations. Roman figurine.
1977. Find of coins.
1977. Find of coin.
1978. Find of coin.
1979. In laying gas pipes at 29 Norwich Road (see also Early Saxon/Middle Saxon section). Inhumations with coins and metalwork.
1978 to 1979. Metal detecting. Coins. Lists in file.
1980. Found in building works in Western Avenue. Possible military burial.
1982. Scatter of Roman tile and sherds.
Pre 1981. Casual find of coin.
1983. Field observation of garage construction at Sunnyside. Negative result.
1983. Find of coin. Found when digging in garden of 21 Belstead Avenue.
1986. Found in building extension in Gaywood Close. Flint wall Context 9. Location plan (S3) in file.
1986. Find of coin. Location plan (S3) in file.
1987. Find of coin and pottery.
1987. Context 10. In foundations of 22 Brooke Avenue. Pottery and coins.
1988. Find of coin.
1989. Find of coin and handle.
1992. Roman sherds and tile found.
1993. Roman brooch and needle.
1994. Roman coins.
1995. Roman coins.
1997. Roman pottery and coins in cable trench.

Early Saxon/Middle Saxon excavations:
1947. Excavation of inhumation. Finds NCM. See (S4).
1951 to 1953. Excavation by C. Green for Ministry of Works (see also Roman) of Middle Saxon huts with sherds and coins. Finds NCM.
1954. Excavation of Anglian cemetery with boat burials. Finds NCM. See (S5). Photographs of coin (S6).

Early Saxon/Middle Saxon casual finds:
1836. Found in digging brickearth. Early Saxon? Cremations.
1932. Found in digging trench. Found near skeletons. Sceatta. Compare with (S7). See newspaper article (S49)
1932 to 1935. Found in construction of Brooke Avenue. Early Saxon cemetery.
1935. Finds of Early Saxon pottery. Finds NCM. See (S7) and (S8).
1949. Find of Early Saxon sherd. Find NCM.
1979. Find of sceatta. Find NCM 293.983. Photograph (S9).
1979. Gas pipe trench at 29 Norwich Road. Inhumation. Possibly Early Saxon with pseudo boat burial (see also Roman).
1978 to 1979. Metal detecting. Coins.
1996. Early Saxon sherds in Roman excavation.

Pre-Roman finds and features:
Pre 1889. Iron Age strap union. No details. Find in NCM.
1946. RAF air photography. Three ring ditches. Context 7. Photograph number not known.
1955. Context 1. Casual find of Bronze Age gold hoard. Possibly post Roman concealment. Finds NCM.
Full details, press cuttings (S10 to S14) and photographs in file (S17).
1996. Iron Age sherds, worked flints in Roman excavation.

Medieval and post-medieval:
1978. Papal bull.
1978 to 1979. Metal detecting. Medieval and post medieval coins.
1991. Medieval metalwork.
1995. Medieval seal.
1998. Undated shell, brick, human bone.

Roman excavations:
1879. Excavation of flint pavement and ashpit. See (S19).
1951 to 1953. Excavation by C. Green for Ministry of Works of Roman seaport town and seamen's hostel (see also Early Saxon/Middle Saxon). Summary reports (S20 and S21) in file.
1954. Context 4. Excavation of Roman town defences and road (see also Early Saxon/Middle Saxon). The 1954 Excavation was reported in (S45).
1961 to 1962. Excavation of town defences by J. Ellison. Summary in file. See (S22 to S24).
1966 to 1968. Excavation at 6 Byron Way - Roman pits and structures. Compare with (S25).

1972. Excavation on defences. Archive at Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1999.321).

1976. Excavation by A. Gregory (NAU) revealed Roman building material.
1986. Excavation by D. Gurney (NAU) revealed Roman road and structures. See (S26).

Full publication in (S28).

Around 1980. Casual finds during building of conservatory.
Four Roman coins.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 26 February 2007.

See full details, schedule form (S29), general notes and plans by R.R. Clarke (S3), and press cuttings (S10 to S16) and notes on stone types in file.
E. Rose (NLA), 3 June 1999.

1993. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of land at 3 West Road (Context 11). Several features of uncertain date excavated, including two pits that produced small amounts of medieval pottery.
See report (S18) for further details.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 4 March 2015.

1996. Trial Trenching, Metal Detector Survey and Watching Brief.
Evaluation at Caister on Sea First School. Single trench excavated revealed Roman ditches and an an extensive deposit that was interpreted as being associated with Roman cultivation. The presence of large Roman tile fragments suggests that Roman buildings had probably stood nearby. Other Roman finds included pottery sherds, a coin, lead weights and iron nails. Post-Roman finds included two handmade Saxon pottery sherds.
See report (S27) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S41).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 4 March 2015.

September 1997. Watching Brief.
Contexts 1 to 37.
Monitoring of cable trenching along Brooke Avenue and Clifford Lane, Caister on Sea, within the area of the Roman fort.
The trenches were seldom deeper than 0.4m and were largely cut through topsoil. No archaeological features observed. Finds included Roman coins, pottery and tile. Undated hand made (pre industrial) iron finds (nail, wedge, fitting and two spikes) were also retrieved.
See report (S30) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S46).
S. Tremlett (NAU), 27 February 2001.

18 September 1997. Minor Excavation.
Hand excavation of trenches for small extention at 44 Grange Road. The lowest deposit encountered was a mid orange brown sandy silt that contained chalk, brick/tile and mortar fragments and a small number of Roman pottery sherds. It was suggested that this deposit was potentially associated with Roman agricultural activity.
See reports (S31) and (S32) for further details.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 4 March 2015.

1999.
Roman pottery finds and wall reported.
D. Gurney (NLA), 15 October 1999.

June 2000. Stray find. In garden of 7 Uplands Avenue.
Roman coin. See file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 5 November 2000.

January 2001. Visit and field observation.
Hypocaust damage. See letter in file.
D. Gurney (NLA), 26 January 2001.

13 March 2001. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of excavation of foundation trenches at 14 Brook Avenue. Largely negative.
See report (S33) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S38).
D. Gurney (NLA), 19 April 2001.

15 March 2001. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of site stripping and excavation of foundation trenches for new classroom at County First School. No significant findings.
See report (S34) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S38).
D. Gurney (NLA), 19 April 2001.

May 2002. Metal detecting. Brooke Avenue, west side. In a garden butting west on scheduled monument.
Roman copper alloy coin struck in Moesia Inferior.
Identified by A. Popescu (NLA).
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 30 June 2002.

May 2004. Found in spoil from grave at TG 5206 1228.
Roman pottery.
See list in file.
S. Ashley (NLA), 21 December 2004.

July 2005. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of installation of new bicycle stand. No contexts used.
No archaeological remains or deposits were observed.
See report (S35) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2016.49).
J. Allen (NLA), 18 August 2005. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 27 April 2019.

2008. The monument is being considered as a pilot Heritage Partnership Agreement.
The scheduled monument is slightly larger than the Historic Property in the Guardianship of English Heritage. The SAM extends a little further to the south of the Guardianship area, and includes the ground under the lay-by and under the bus shelter, though the surface of the lay-by and the bus shelter itself are excluded from the scheduling. The Historic Property in the Guardianship of English Heritage is, unusually, owned by the Department for Culture Media and Sport, as the successor to the Ministry of Works, to which the land was conveyed in 1954 and 1955.
There is a Maintained Property Agreement (formerly known as a Local Management Agreement) between English Heritage and Great Yarmouth Borough Council. This began on 2 April 2005 and runs for 5 years, subject to earlier termination subject to the provisions of the Agreement. Under the MPA the Borough Council undertakes to provide day to day care and management of the site, in return for an agreed payment from English Heritage. A Schedule to the Agreement sets out management principles and specific tasks.
D. Gurney (NLA), 3 July 2008.

May 2008. Watching Brief.
Monitoring during installation of an interpretation panel within the Scheduled area.
No archaeological finds or features were encountered.
See report (S36) for further information.
A. Cattermole (NLA), 14 October 2008.

December 2008. Watching brief to rear of 17 Roman Way.
See NHER 52560 for details.
A. Cattermole (NLA), 2 December 2008.

March 2010. Trial Trench.
Single trench excavated on site of new dwelling at 29 Belstead Avenue.
A ditch that may have formed part of a plot boundary and post-hole contained Roman greyware pottery were recorded within the fills. Roman pottery and a fragment of daub were recovered from the topsoil and are possibly indicative of an area of civilian settlement. The presence of charred plant remains suggests that agricultural processing was being undertaken close to the site. The abraded nature of the pottery could suggest that this material was redeposited into the ditch feature via natural silting rather than a dumping event. A fragment of tegula suggests that there is a Roman building close to the evaluation area and that the main focus of Roman settlement is further north.
See report (S37) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2010.103).
S. Howard (NLA), 12 April 2010. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 11 May 2019.

April 2010. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks for new dwelling at 29 Belstead Avenue.
A possible Iron Age ditch was observed during the excavation and the lack of Roman finds within the fill could suggest that the feature had silted up by the time there was the Roman civilian settlement within the area. The ditch is likely to be a boundary associated with agricultural practices or husbandry. The lack of pottery within the fill could indicate that it was located away from the area of settlement.
See report (S38) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2011.50).
S. Howard (HES), 28 February 2011. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 11 May 2019.

September 2010-June 2011. Excavation.
Excavation of foundation trenches for new structures at Uplands Avenue.
The excavation revealed Romano-British deposits covering three distinct phases. The earliest phase comprising a buried soil horizon, postholes, ditches, pits and a gully dating to between the 1st and 2nd century AD. The second phase is associated with the establishment of the fort and comprises evidence for the construction of the rampart and structures including part of a building. A number of refuse pits and a possible hearth were also associated with this period of development. During the 4th century there is evidence for the reorganisation of the interior of the fort with metalled surfaces and heightening of the ramparts. Finds recovered include pottery mainly dating to the 3rd and 4th century, a coin, nails, quern, slag, human and animal bones. With the presence of brick and tile indicating the presence of permanent structures within the vicinity. A bone sword chape also indicates a military presence.
Post-Roman deposits comprise an extensive dark earth deposit which has been found to seal Middle Saxon features in other areas, but no features of this date were observed.
See report (S43) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S44).
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2011.442).
S. Howard (HES), 28 February 2012. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 16 May 2019.

February 2012. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks for an extension to the rear of 21 Grange Road. Encountered a Romano-British ditch containing pottery, ceramic building material and animal bone, broadly dated to the 2nd to 4th century. This ditch appeared to be a re-cut of a pre-existing ditch on the same alignment from which sherds of late 3rd- to 4th-century pottery were recovered. The southern area of the vicus associated with the Roman fort may well have extended as far as this low-lying area by the 3rd to 4th century.
See report (S39) for further details.
E. Bales (HES), 05 July 2012.

July 2013. Field Visit.
Site in excellent condition under a good grass sward and clearly recently cut. Structural remains free of weeds or any other vegetation and clearly visible.
K. Powell (HES), 7 January 2014

2016 - note added
The excavation in 1986 within the guardianship area demonstrated that the original road surface was very much finer than that visible on site today. At the end of the 1950s excavations Charles Green sent his workmen to collect pebbles from the beach and these were then laid on site to show the 'road' and central gutter. A sample of the original road surface encountered in 1986 has been retained to inform any future more accurate reconstruction, and this has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum.
David Gurney (HES), 08 December 2016.

January-March 2019. Metal-detecting in garden of 21 Longfellow Road. [2].
1 Roman coin.
Information from PAS import.
E. McDonald (HES), 3 December 2019.

Monument Types

  • INHUMATION (Unknown date)
  • RING DITCH (Unknown date)
  • SITE (Unknown date)
  • WALL (Unknown date)
  • RING DITCH (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • SITE (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • DITCH (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • BRIDGE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BUILDING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • CORN DRYING KILN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • DITCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • DRAIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FEATURE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FLOOR (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FORT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • GULLY (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • HEARTH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • HEARTH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • HYPOCAUST (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • INHUMATION (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • INN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • KILN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • LIME WORKS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • MAUSOLEUM (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • OVEN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PIT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POST HOLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PRIVY HOUSE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • QUARRY (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • ROAD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • TESSELLATED FLOOR (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • TIMBER FRAMED BUILDING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • TOWN DEFENCES (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • WALL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • CEMETERY (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • CREMATION (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • INHUMATION (Early Saxon - 410 AD to 650 AD)
  • CEMETERY (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • HEARTH (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • MONASTERY (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • PIT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • ROUND HOUSE (DOMESTIC) (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • SHIP BURIAL (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • CEMETERY (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • INHUMATION (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • PIT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • SHIP BURIAL (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • DITCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HEARTH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • PIT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Associated Finds

  • BRICK (Undated)
  • COFFIN (Undated)
  • HUMAN REMAINS (Undated)
  • HUMAN REMAINS (Undated)
  • INSCRIBED OBJECT (Undated)
  • MOLLUSCA REMAINS (Undated)
  • QUERN (Undated)
  • TILE (Undated)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Undated)
  • LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FLAKE (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC?)
  • LEAF ARROWHEAD (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2351 BC)
  • BRACELET (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • HOARD (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • POT (Bronze Age - 2350 BC to 701 BC)
  • HARNESS (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • POT (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
  • ANIMAL REMAINS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • ANIMAL REMAINS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • ARROWHEAD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • AWL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BALL (RITUAL) (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BALLISTA BOLT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BEAD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BEAD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BELL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BOX (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BRACELET (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BRACELET (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BRICK (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BRIQUETAGE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BUCKET (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • CANDLE HOLDER (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • CHISEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN HOARD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COMB (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • CRUCIBLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • DIE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • DISC (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • DOOR FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • DRESS COMPONENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FERRULE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FIGURINE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FIGURINE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FISH HOOK (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FLOOR TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FLUE TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FURNITURE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • GAMING PIECE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • GAMING PIECE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • GAMING PIECE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • GAMING PIECE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • GEMSTONE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • HARNESS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • HELMET (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • HORSESHOE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • HUMAN REMAINS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • KEY (LOCKING) (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • KEY (LOCKING) (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • KILN FURNITURE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • KNIFE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • LAMP (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • LATCHLIFTER (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • LOCKING MECHANISM (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • MINIATURE OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • MOLLUSCA REMAINS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • NAIL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • NEEDLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • NEEDLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • NEEDLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PADLOCK (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PALETTE (COSMETIC) (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PALETTE (COSMETIC) (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PENDANT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PENDANT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PERSONAL ORNAMENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PLANT REMAINS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • PUNCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • QUERN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • ROOF TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SCABBARD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SCABBARD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SCABBARD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SHEARS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SHOE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SPADE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SPEAR (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SPINDLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SPINDLE WHORL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SPINDLE WHORL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SPINDLE WHORL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SPINDLE WHORL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SPOON (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SPOON (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SPUR (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SPUR (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • STEELYARD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • STEELYARD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • STEELYARD WEIGHT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • STRAP FITTING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • STYLUS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • STYLUS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SURGICAL INSTRUMENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SWORD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • SWORD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • TOILET ARTICLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • TWEEZERS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • WEIGHT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • WHETSTONE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • WINDOW GLASS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • WORKED OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • WRITING AND DRAWING EQUIPMENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 218 AD to 223 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 335 AD to 348 AD)
  • HANGING BOWL (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • POT (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • RING (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • SHIELD (Early Saxon - 411 AD to 650 AD)
  • (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • ANIMAL REMAINS (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • COFFIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • COIN (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • FINGER RING (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • GRAVESTONE (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • HARNESS (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • KNIFE (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • LOOMWEIGHT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • NAIL (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • POT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • SPEAR (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • TEXTILE EQUIPMENT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD to 850 AD)
  • CRUCIBLE (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
  • ARROWHEAD (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BALANCE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BULL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • CENSER (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • HARNESS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SEAL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • SPUR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • THIMBLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • CLAY PIPE (SMOKING) (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN WEIGHT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • TOKEN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status

  • Scheduled Monument

Sources and further reading

---Photograph: 1958. A.S. Pottery Conference 1958, Caister-on-Sea Roman town (M617 to M620).
---Article in Serial: 1952. Roman Britain in 1951. Journal of Roman Studies. Vol XLII, pp 86-109. pp 96-97.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1979. [Articles on the burials found in 1979].
---Unpublished Document: English Heritage. 2008. Heritage Partnership Agreement, Caister Roman Fort..
---Article in Serial: Fox, G. E. 1889. Roman Norfolk. The Archaeological Journal. Vol XLVI pp 331-367.
---Article in Serial: Taylor, R. J. and Brailsford, J. W. 1985. British Iron Age Strap-Unions. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society. Vol 51 pp 247-272. p 265.
---Unpublished Document: Ellison, J.A.. 1962. Summary of Excavations at Caister-on-Sea 1962.
---Photograph: NLA. Finds Photograph.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1946. [Articles on the coin hoard found in 1946]. 30 November.
---Article in Serial: Green, C., Rigold, S. E. and Clarke, R. R. 1954. Other Archaeological Excavations 1953. Norfolk Research Committee Bulletin. Series 1 No 6 (for 1953) pp 2-4. p 2.
---Fiche: Exists.
---Publication: English Heritage Education Service. Caister Roman Site, Norfolk.
---Photograph: 2001. 8675 3/2001.
---Article in Serial: 1947. Roman Britain in 1946. The Journal of Roman Studies. Vol XXVII, pp 165-182. p 171.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1983. Vandals damage Roman site at Caister. 15 October.
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
---Publication: English Heritage. 2000. Caister Roman Site, Norfolk.
---Unpublished Document: Musty, A.E.S.. 1972. Caister.
---Newspaper Article: The Times. 1952. Excavations at Roman port in East Anglia. 2 February.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1952. Manning the Saxon shore. 24 March.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1999. Latin lesson from early Romans. 17 April.
---Unpublished Document: Green, E.B.. 1973. East-Bloudy-Burgh Furlong.
---Publication: Gurney, D.. 2002. Outposts of the Roman Empire. A Guide to Norfolk's Roman Forts at Burgh Castle, Caister-on-Sea and Brancaster..
---Slide: Various. Slide. 1-15.
---Article in Serial: Clarke, R. R. 1955. Other Archaeological Excavations, 1954. Norfolk Research Committee Bulletin. Series 1 No 7 (for 1954) p 2.
---Monograph: Pearson, A.. 2003. The Construction of the Saxon Shore Forts.. British Archaeological Reports British Series. Vol 349.
---Drawing: Various. Various. Architectural plans.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1935. Roman votive coins. 9 May.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1952. The port of Caister. 20 March.
---Unpublished Document: Ellison, J.A.. 1961. Summary of Excavations at Caister-on-Sea 1961.
---Unpublished Contractor Report: Watson, J. 1989. Construction of a Sword Hilt from Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk. Ancient Monuments Laboratory. 22/89.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1935. Discoveries at Caister. 16 April.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1954. "Pseudo-ship burials" find at Caister. 21 August.
---Photograph: P. Crawley.. 2010. PMF.
---Article in Serial: 1963. Archaeological Discoveries in Norfolk, 1961. Norfolk Research Committee Bulletin. Series 1 No 14 (for 1961 and 1962) pp 1-3. p 2.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1951. [Articles on the excavation at Casister in 1951].
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1952. Significance of Caister finds. 24 November.
---Slide: P. Crawley.. 2010. Slides 1-15, 29 Belstead Avenue, Caister on Sea..
---Aerial Photograph: TG5112 L,AB-AC,ABJ-ABN.
---Newspaper Article: The Times. 1935. Human remains at Caister. 17 May.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1952. Report on red pottery found at Caister. 31 March.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1996. Access plan for fort. 11 January.
---Designation: Ministry of Works. Schedule Report.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2007. Excavator blunder damages Roman site. 13 April.
---Article in Serial: Rumbelow, P. E. 1937. Finds on a Roman Site at Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XXVI Pt II pp 178-182.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Evening News. 1947. Caister excavations. 16 October.
---Unpublished Contractor Report: Crawley, P. 2010. An Archaeological Watching Brief at 29 Belstead Avenue, Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk. NAU Archaeology. 2415.
---Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Post-Medieval. Caister-on-sea.
---Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Late Saxon. Caister on Sea.
---Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Bronze Age. Caister-on-sea.
---Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Middle Saxon. Caister on Sea [2].
---Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Roman. Caister-by-Yarmouth [3].
---Unpublished Document: Norfolk Landscape Archaeology. 1995. Plan for the Public Presentation of Caister-on-Sea Roman Fort.
---Article in Serial: Jenkins, G. K. 1947. The Caister-by-Yarmouth Hoard. Numismatic Chronicle. Sixth Series Vol VII pp 175-179.
---Serial: 1962. Council for British Archaeology Group 7 Bulletin of Archaeological Discoveries for 1962. No 9. p 2.
---Serial: 1975. Council for British Archaeology Group 7 Bulletin of Archaeological Discoveries for 1975. No 22. p 5.
---Serial: 1955. Council for British Archaeology Group 7 Bulletin of Archaeological Discoveries. No 2. p 4.
---Article in Serial: Clarke, R. R. 1951. Report of the Summer Meeting of the Institute at Norwich, 1949. Part I. Prehistoric, Roman, and Anglo-Saxon: Romano-Saxon Pottery in East Anglia. The Archaeological Journal. Vol CVI pp 69-71. p 69; Fig 2.
---Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TG 51 SW 5 [2]; TG 51 SW 5.5 [2]; TG 51 SW 6; TG 51 SW 7; TG 51 SW 8; TG 51 SW 9 [2]; TG 51 SW 10;.
---Monograph: Pevsner, N. and Wilson, B. 1997. Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. pp 425-426.
---Newspaper Article: Human skulls found at Caister believed to be Anglo-Saxon.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1961. Defensive ditches found at Caister. 7 September.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. Caister's past as a port.
---Serial: 1961. Council for British Archaeology Group 7 Bulletin of Archaeological Discoveries for 1961. No 8. p 2.
---Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
---Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Miscellaneous. Caister on Sea [2].
---Designation: English Heritage. 1990-2013. English Heritage Scheduling Notification. Notification. DNF184.
---Designation: [unknown]. Ancient Monuments Form. SAM Record. DNF184.
---Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---Article in Serial: Gunn, J. 1846. Icenia: notices of Roman Remains, and evidences of occupation, discovered in Norfolk. The Archaeological Journal. Vol III pp 246-251.
<S1>Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Early Saxon. Caister on Sea [6].
<S2>Photograph: Unknown. 1935. October 2005..
<S3>Map: Finder's Map..
<S4>Article in Serial: Clarke, R. R. 1952. Notes on Recent Archaeological Discoveries in Norfolk (1943-8). Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XXX pp 156-159. p 158.
<S5>Article in Serial: Wells, C. and Green, C. 1973. Sunrise Dating of Death and Burial. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XXXV Pt IV pp 435-442. p 435.
<S6>Photograph: EAJ 23-35.
<S7>Article in Serial: Clarke, R. R. 1940. Norfolk in the Dark Ages, 400-800 A.D., Part II. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XXVII Pt II pp 215-249. p 236.
<S8>Article in Serial: Sainty, J. E. and Clarke, R. R. 1946. A Century of Norfolk Prehistory. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XXIX pp 8-40. p 39.
<S9>Photograph: CNB 1-6.
<S9>Unpublished Contractor Report: Anderson, S. 1991. The Human Skeletal Remains from Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk. Ancient Monuments Laboratory. 9/91.
<S10>Newspaper Article: Yarmouth Mercury. 1955. [Articles on the hoard found in 1955].
<S11>Newspaper Article: The Illustrated London News. 1955. [Photograph of the two of the bracelets]. 30 July.
<S13>Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1955. [Articles on the hoard found in 1955].
<S14>Newspaper Article: The Times. 1955. [Photograph of the gold bracelets]. 25 July.
<S17>Photograph: Ashley, H.. 1955. Late Bronze Age gold objects found at Caister on Sea (CM580 and CM582).
<S18>Unpublished Contractor Report: Penn, K. 1993. Report on an Archaeological Evaluation at 3 West Road, Caister-on-Sea. Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 19.
<S19>Article in Serial: 1884. Appendix. Extracts from the Proceedings at General and Committee Meetings. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol IX pp 359-369. p 361.
<S20>Article in Serial: 1952. Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk. Norfolk Research Committee Bulletin. Series 1 No 4 (for 1951) pp 2-3.
<S21>Unpublished Document: 1953. Roman Town at Caister-on-Sea.
<S22>Article in Serial: Ellison, J. A. 1965. Excavations at Caister-on-Sea 1961-62. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XXXIII, pp 94-107.
<S23>Article in Serial: Ellison, J. A. 1966. Excavations at Caister-on-Sea, 1962-63. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XXXIV Pt I pp 45-73.
<S24>Article in Serial: Ellison, J. A. 1965. Excavations at Caister-on-Sea 1961-62. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XXXIII, pp 94-107.
<S25>Article in Serial: Higgins, D. C. 1972. Three Groups of Romano-British Coarse Pottery from Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XXXV Pt III pp 279-301.
<S26>Unpublished Document: Gurney, D.. 1986. Excavation at Caister on Sea 1986: Summary Report.
<S27>Unpublished Contractor Report: Emery, P. 1996. Archaeological Evaluation at Caister-on-Sea County First School. Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 181.
<S28>Monograph: Darling, M. J. and Gurney, D. 1993. Caister-on-Sea Excavations by Charles Green, 1951-55. East Anglian Archaeology. No 60.
<S29>Designation: English Heritage. 1994? -2011?. English Heritage Digital Designation Record. Record. DNF184.
<S30>Unpublished Contractor Report: Wallace, P. A. M. 1999. Report on an Archaeological Watching Brief at Brooke Avenue, Caister-on-Sea. Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 407.
<S31>Unpublished Contractor Report: Moss, N. 1997. Results of Watching Brief at 44 Grange Road, Caister-on-Sea. Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 282.
<S32>Unpublished Contractor Report: Moss, N. 2001. Report on an Archaeological Excavation at 44 Grange Road, Caister-on-Sea. Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 581.
<S33>Unpublished Contractor Report: Hobbs, B. 2001. Report on Archaeological Watching Brief at No. 14 Brooke Avenue, Casiter on Sea. Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 588.
<S34>Unpublished Contractor Report: Underdown, S. 2001. Report on Archaeological Watching Brief at Caister-on-Sea First School. Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 589.
<S35>Unpublished Contractor Report: Boyle, M. 2006. An Archaeological Watching Brief at Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk. NAU Archaeology. 1098.
<S36>Unpublished Contractor Report: Hobson, M. 2008. An Archaeological Watching Brief at Caister-on-Sea Roman Fort, Norfolk. NAU Archaeology. 1831.
<S37>Unpublished Contractor Report: Crawley, P. 2010. An Archaeological Evaluation at 29 Belstead Avenue, Caister on Sea, Norfolk. NAU Archaeology. 2384.
<S38>Article in Serial: Gurney, D. and Penn, K. (eds). 2002. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk, 2001. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLIV Pt I pp 162-177. p 164.
<S39>Unpublished Contractor Report: Emery, G. 2012. Archaeological Monitoring at 21 Grange Road, Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk. Norvic Archaeology. 21.
<S40>Illustration: Gregory, T.. 1976. Drawing of a Roman steelyard weight.. Paper. 1:1.
<S42>Article in Serial: Gurney, D. and Penn, K. (eds). 1997. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk 1996. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLII Pt IV pp 547-564. p 549.
<S43>Unpublished Contractor Report: Cope-Faulkner, P. 2011. Archaeological investigations at Uplands Avenue, Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk. Archaeological Project Services. 106/11.
<S44>Article in Serial: Gurney, D. 2012. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk in 2011. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLVI Pt III pp 421-428. p 422.
<S45>Serial: 1954. Council for British Archaeology Group VII Bulletin of Archaeological Discoveries. No 1. p 2.
<S46>Article in Serial: Gurney, D. and Penn, K. (eds). 1998. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk 1997. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLIII Pt I pp 193-210. pp 194-195.
<S47>Article in Serial: Taylor, E. S. 1872. Roman Coins and Antiquities found at Caistor, Next Yarmouth. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol VII pp 11-19.
<S48>Newspaper Article: Eastern Evening News. 1932. [unknown]. 20 February 1932.
<S49>Newspaper Article: Eastern Evening News. 1932. [Article on a Saxon coin found in Caister on Sea]. 22 April.

Related records

45329Parent of: Late Roman and Middle Saxon activity, Uplands (Monument)
52560Parent of: Roman ditch, medieval pits and a possible hollow way, at land to the rear of 17 Roman Way (Monument)

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