Land at James Paget University Hospital, Gorleston, Norfolk. Site 1A: An Archaeological Trial Trenching Evaluation

The archaeological evaluation was carried out following a program of Historic Desk Based Assessment, non-intrusive Aerial Photo survey and Geophysical Survey. The archaeological work was commissioned by PCA Heritage on behalf of James Paget University Hospital in response to an archaeological planning condition attached to determine the presence or absence of below-ground archaeological remains in advance of construction of a new hospital and related facilities, (Planning Reference: 06/23/0748/F). The trial trenching planned on two parts of the site (Sites 1A and 5) forms the second stage in a programme of archaeological work for the site which to date has comprised archaeological desk-based assessment (PCA Heritage 2023 and PCA Heritage 2023a). This report describes the results of the evaluation at Site 1A. The principal result of the fieldwork was the identification of Bronze Age funerary activity in the vicinity of a likely ploughed-out barrow (NHER 42518), the presence of which had been noted from aerial photographic evidence and transcribed on NMP plans in the vicinity of Trench 14. The most significant find being an almost complete Bronze Age Beaker found within an oval pit which may have represented a burial, but which contained no bone due to the acidic sandy conditions. Small fragments of prehistoric pottery were collected from a further pit in Trench 11. Several other sub-surface cut archaeological features confirmed elements of a field system recorded as cropmarks (NHER 45057). Although undated, many of these ditches are thought to represent field boundaries of late prehistoric (particularly Late Iron Age) to Roman date. Several ditches in Trenches 1, 2 3 and 5, recorded as NHER 45056 on a different alignment represent post-medieval field boundaries occasionally corresponding with boundaries shown on Faden's map. A possible gun emplacement or similar structure linked with a known World War Two searchlight battery (NHER 42518) was recorded in Trench 13 on the southern edge of the site, although other possible structures were not present, likely having been cleared following the war. Several collections of animal burials of 19th/20th century date around Trench 13 were likely buried by a local farmer on this non-productive land.