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Record Details

NHER Number:31238
Type of record:Find Spot
Name:Possible Mesolithic flint-working site, medieval pottery works and multi-period finds

Summary

Fieldwalking surveys were undertaken in several parts of this field during the 1990s. This work recovered over 2000 medieval to post-medieval pottery sherds (the majority unglazed medieval wares). Many of the oxidised and glazed medieval sherds were probably pottery production rejects: an activity that may account for several patches of discoloured soil that were noted during one of the surveys. The ceramic evidence suggests that pottery manufacture at this site continued into the 16th century, when it appears that lead-glazed vessels were being produced. Other notable finds recovered include a small assemblage of worked flints that, whilst not individually diagnostic, probably represent debris from a Mesolithic microlithic industry. Other finds included ?Neolithic and undatable prehistoric flints; a small assemblage of Roman pottery; possible sherds of Iron Age, Middle Saxon and Late Saxon pottery; medieval to post-medieval ceramic building material and several post-medieval wig curlers.
Metal-detecting between 2011 and 2016 recovered a Late Saxon to post-medieval glass linen smoother; Roman, medieval and post-medieval coins; a medieval/post-medieval token and undated, Roman and Late Saxon to post-medieval metal objects. The metal finds include an undated lead droplet with the remains of two stamps; Roman brooches; Late Saxon to post-medieval lead weights; a medieval thimble and lead pot mend; a medieval/post-medieval purse bar fragment, purse frame and part of a candlestick and a post-medieval bodkin-type dress pin, a kosher meat seal and a shoe or clog clasp.

Images

  • Bricks, medieval to post medieval pieces of pot and wasters on a light coloured soilmark in a field in Hemblington. This may be the site of a medieval to post medieval pottery works © Norfolk County Council
  • Post-medieval dress pin from NHER 31238 © Norfolk County Council
  • Romano-British rosette brooch from NHER 31238 © Norfolk County Council
  • Post-medieval seal from NHER 31238 © Norfolk County Council
  • Post-medieval shoe from NHER 31238 © Norfolk County Council

Location

Grid Reference:Not displayed
Map Sheet:TG31SW
Parish:HEMBLINGTON, BROADLAND, NORFOLK

Full description

Early 1995. Systematic Fieldwalking.
Fieldwalking as part of UEA Extra Mural Diploma Course. Formerly three fields (13 Acre/14 Acre/Kator field), now one, but still separately cropped. Two separate fieldwalking surveys were undertaken - a casual survey of the westernmost field ('Kator field') and a much more systematic, gridded survey of the central field (14 Acre).

The finds recovered during the casual survey of 'Kator field' included:
1?Neolithic flint flake knife and 3 rounded end scrapers.
2 undatable prehistoric flint cores, 7 miscellaneous retouched pieces, 3 bladelet fragments, 24 unmodified flakes, 3 spalls and burnt flints. Some of the flakes were fresh and sharp suggesting later activity (perhaps Bronze Age/Iron Age).
7 Roman pottery sherds (greyware).
3 ?Late Saxon pottery sherds (?Thetford-type).
12 medieval pottery sherds (including unglazed, glazed and glazed Grimston) and 1 roof tile.
1 post-medieval pipe clay wig curler and 1 glass vessel fragment.
1 ?post-medieval pottery sherd (?Glazed Red Earthenware).

Finds recovered during systematic fieldwalking of '14 Acre' field included:
46 prehistoric worked flints, including 15 flakes, 2 blade-like flakes, 2 blades, 7 spalls, 1 multi-platform core fragment, 11 retouched flakes, 4 notched flakes, 2 retouched blades (1 a ?broken microlith), 1 side and end scraper and 1 thumbnail scraper. No clearly diagnostic pieces, although small size of flakes and blades and frequency of very fine retouch suggests a Mesolithic microlithic industry.
11 ?prehistoric burnt flints.
1 ?Iron Age pottery sherd.
61 Roman pottery sherds (including 59 greyware, 1 Samian and 1 oxidised).
20 ?Roman pottery sherds (19 ?greyware and 1 ?oxidised).
1 Roman/Late Saxon pottery sherd (greyware/Thetford-type ware).
1 ?Middle Saxon pottery sherd (?sandy Ipswich ware).
2 ?Late Saxon pottery sherds (?Thetford-type ware).
1 Late Saxon to post-medieval glass linen smoother.
1926 medieval pottery sherds (including 10 Early Medieval wares, 1739 medieval unglazed, 77 oxidised (some glazed), 2 medieval stoneware, 68 medieval glazed and 30 Grimston glazed), 6 bricks, 2 glazed roof tiles and 5 roof tiles.
1 ?medieval pottery sherd (unglazed ?import), 9 bricks and 7 roof tiles.
99 medieval/post-medieval pottery sherds (98 LMT and 1 stoneware) and 2 bricks.
12 ?medieval/post-medieval pottery sherds (?LMT).
75 post-medieval pottery sherds (including 35 Glazed Red Earthenware, 22 stoneware, 8 reduced glazed, 6 black glazed and 4 slipware), 8 vessel glass fragments, 2 bottle glass fragments and 2 pipe clay wig curlers.
6 undatable pottery sherds.
It is noted that many of the pottery sherds were small and abraded. It is possible that some of those identified as medieval unglazed were possible Roman greyware. A number of areas of discoloured soil were identified and many of the medieval oxidised and medieval glazed sherds may be pottery production rejects.

Flints identified by P. Robins (NCM) and ceramic objects by A. Rogerson (NLA). See lists and descriptions. See also report (S1) and accompanying figures.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 27 June 1995. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 7 May 2014.

February/March 1997. Systematic Fieldwalking.
Examination of strip along eastern edge of field:
2 ?Mesolithic/Early Neolithic blade core fragments and 1 small blade.
44 undatable prehistoric worked flints, including 11 flakes, 5 spalls, 26 shatter fragments and 2 retouched flakes.
1 ?prehistoric burnt flint.
1 ?Roman pottery sherd.
9 medieval pottery sherds (including 6 medieval unglazed and 3 glazed Grimston).
75 medieval/post-medieval pottery sherds (mostly lead-glazed earthenware) and 2 tile/brick fragments.
6 post-medieval pottery sherds (2 stoneware and 4 Glazed Red Earthenware).
1 undatable pottery sherd.
The medieval/post-medieval pottery sherds are mostly underfired and oxidised/part oxidised with some showing evidence of having been refired. This group is evidence that lead-glazed vessels (rather than true LMT wares) were being produced here during the 16th century.
Flints identified by P. Robins (NCM) and ceramic objects by A. Rogerson (NLA). See lists, finder's notes and maps in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 11 April 1997. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 7 May 2014.

An additional Mesolithic flaked flint axehead was found to the north in 1977, at NHER 12634.
H. Hamilton (NLA), 28 November 2008.

September-October 2011. Metal-detecting.
1 Roman coin.
1 medieval coin and 1 thimble.
Coins identified by A. Marsden (HES) and thimble by S. Ashley (HES). See list and descriptions in file.
S. Ashley (HES), 27 October 2011. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 7 May 2014.

October-November 2011. Metal-detecting.
1 post-medieval bodkin-type pin.
Identified by E. Darch (HES), see description in file.
E. Darch (HES), 2 December 2011.

October-November 2013. Metal-detecting. [3].
Roman brooch.
Late Saxon to post-medieval lead weights.
1 post-medieval coin.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 2 December 2013.

November-December 2013. Metal-detecting. [4].
1 medieval/post-medieval token, buckles, a purse bar fragment, rumbler bell and part of a candlestick.
1 post-medieval coin, buckles, a kosher meat seal and a shoe or clog clasp.
See finder's map in file.
A. Beckham (HES), 11 December 2013.

December 2013-January 2014. Metal-detecting. [5].
Incomplete undated lead droplet with the remains of two stamps.
Roman brooches.
2 post-medieval tokens and a hooked tag.
Information from PAS import.
A. Beckham (HES), 6 February 2014.

March-April 2014. Metal-detecting. [6].
Roman brooch.
1 medieval coin.
Medieval/post-medieval purse frame.
Information from PAS import.
A. Beckham (HES), 1 May 2014.

October-November 2016. Metal-detecting. [7].
1 Roman coin.
1 medieval coin and a lead pot mend.
Information from PAS import.
A. Beckham (HES), 15 December 2016.

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)
  • LITHIC WORKING SITE (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
  • FINDSPOT (Neolithic - 4000 BC? to 2351 BC?)
  • FINDSPOT (Early Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 2350 BC? to 42 AD?)
  • FINDSPOT (Iron Age - 800 BC? to 42 AD?)
  • FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD? to 850 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)
  • POTTERY MANUFACTURING SITE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POTTERY MANUFACTURING SITE (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

  • POT (Undated)
  • POT (Unknown date)
  • TRIAL PIECE (Unknown date)
  • BLADE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • BURNT FLINT (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC? to 42 AD?)
  • BURNT FLINT (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC? to 42 AD?)
  • CORE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • DEBITAGE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • DEBITAGE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FLAKE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • FLAKE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • RETOUCHED FLAKE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • RETOUCHED FLAKE (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • SIDE AND END SCRAPER (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • THUMB NAIL SCRAPER (Lower Palaeolithic to Late Iron Age - 500000 BC to 42 AD)
  • BLADE (Early Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 10000 BC? to 3001 BC?)
  • BLADE (Mesolithic - 10000 BC? to 4001 BC?)
  • BLADE CORE (Early Mesolithic to Early Neolithic - 10000 BC? to 3001 BC?)
  • CORE (Mesolithic - 10000 BC? to 4001 BC?)
  • DEBITAGE (Mesolithic - 10000 BC? to 4001 BC?)
  • FLAKE (Mesolithic - 10000 BC? to 4001 BC?)
  • MICROLITH? (Mesolithic - 10000 BC? to 4001 BC?)
  • NOTCHED FLAKE (Mesolithic - 10000 BC? to 4001 BC?)
  • RETOUCHED BLADE (Mesolithic - 10000 BC? to 4001 BC?)
  • RETOUCHED FLAKE (Mesolithic - 10000 BC? to 4001 BC?)
  • END SCRAPER (Neolithic - 4000 BC? to 2351 BC?)
  • KNIFE (Neolithic - 4000 BC? to 2351 BC?)
  • FLAKE (Early Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 2350 BC to 42 AD)
  • POT (Iron Age - 800 BC? to 42 AD?)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 65 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 75 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
  • POT (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
  • POT (Roman to Late Saxon - 43 AD to 1065 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 55 AD to 80 AD)
  • BROOCH (Roman - 55 AD to 80 AD)
  • COIN (Roman - 100 AD? to 199 AD?)
  • COIN (Roman - 314 AD to 317 AD)
  • POT (Middle Saxon - 651 AD? to 850 AD?)
  • LINEN SMOOTHER (Late Saxon to 19th Century - 851 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD? to 1065 AD?)
  • POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD? to 1065 AD?)
  • WEIGHT (Late Saxon to 16th Century - 1000 AD to 1600 AD)
  • BRICK (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • BRICK (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)
  • BRICK (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • BRICK? (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)
  • POT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD? to 1900 AD?)
  • ROOF TILE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • ROOF TILE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • ROOF TILE (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)
  • THIMBLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • POT MEND (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1500 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1210 AD to 1213 AD)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1244 AD? to 1247 AD?)
  • COIN (Medieval - 1300 AD to 1300 AD)
  • BELL (Medieval to 16th Century - 1400 AD to 1550 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval to 16th Century - 1400 AD to 1550 AD)
  • TOKEN (Medieval to 17th Century - 1400 AD to 1700 AD)
  • BUCKLE (Medieval to 16th Century - 1500 AD to 1600 AD)
  • CANDLESTICK (Medieval to 16th Century - 1500 AD to 1550 AD)
  • PURSE (Medieval to 16th Century - 1500 AD to 1550 AD)
  • PURSE (Medieval to 16th Century - 1500 AD to 1550 AD)
  • BOTTLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • PIN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD? to 1900 AD?)
  • VESSEL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • VESSEL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • WIG CURLER (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • WIG CURLER (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • COIN (16th Century - 1553 AD to 1558 AD)
  • DRESS HOOK (16th Century to 17th Century - 1575 AD to 1700 AD)
  • BUCKLE (16th Century to 17th Century - 1600 AD to 1700 AD)
  • BUCKLE (16th Century to 17th Century - 1600 AD to 1700 AD)
  • SEAL (16th Century to 18th Century - 1600 AD to 1800 AD)
  • TOKEN (16th Century to 17th Century - 1600 AD to 1700 AD)
  • COIN (17th Century - 1607 AD to 1609 AD)
  • SHOE (17th Century to 18th Century - 1675 AD to 1800 AD)

Protected Status - none

Sources and further reading

---Publication: British Museum. 2013. Treasure Act Annual Report 2011. p xlviii.
---Photograph: I & RS. Digital finds image.
---Map: Finder's Map..
---Article in Serial: Gurney, D. (ed.). 1998. Archaeological Finds in Norfolk 1997. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLIII Pt I pp 181-192. p 182.
---Secondary File: Secondary File.
<S1>Unpublished Document: Ames, J.. 1995. The Evolution of Wood Farm in the Parish of Hemblington.

Related records - none

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