A Medieval Common-Edge Settlement at Land South of Dereham Road, Mattishall, Norfolk

Between 28th April and 23rd July 2021, Oxford Archaeology East (OA East) undertook an archaeological excavation at land south Dereham Road, Mattishall (TG0395 1118). A total of 1.2ha was excavated in advance of residential development, targeting the results of previous geophysical and trial trenching surveys. The excavation revealed several phases of activity spanning the medieval through to the post-medieval and modern periods, with a focus on the development of a common-edge boundary and associated settlement between the 12th and 15th centuries. In addition to the boundary demarcating the southern edge of Mattishall's West Green, which was reworked and encroached northwards over time, the fieldwork uncovered evidence of enclosures and plots representing properties or tofts extending back from the common edge. Of note is an area of pits in the eastern part of the site that produced a significant quantity of metalworking waste associated with a forge or smithy. Although activity began to decline from the 14th century, a series of cobbled surfaces revealed in the western half of the site produced evidence of craft processing, including butchery. Associated finds include quern stones and numerous nails, alongside pottery that appears to have derived from a late medieval dwelling of relatively high status that was probably abandoned in the late 15th century. By the post-medieval period (16th-19th centuries) the medieval settlement had evidently been abandoned and the common-edge boundary infilled. Closer to the historic core of Mattishall village, in the eastern part of the site, the remains of a structure and associated demolition deposits containing numerous iron structural fittings were revealed, with field boundaries to the west. These can be related to a cottage and barn/outbuilding depicted on historic maps, which was demolished by the late 19th century. Despite the poor survival of plant remains and the recovery of a modestly sized faunal assemblage, this evidence is typical of subsistence-level pastoral and agricultural regimes identified at other medieval sites in the region. A possible emphasis on cattle (beef) production supplemented by secondary products such as wool, lanolin and dairy (sheep/goat) is suggested. An indication of higher levels of wealth and presumably literacy is provided by the recovery of a silver penny, a late medieval book mount and the presence of a high proportion of glazed pottery wares. This site is an important example of a medieval common-edge settlement (with evidence of metalworking), and contributes to regional research into patterns of population increase and settlement expansion/shift as well as later medieval rural depopulation, and the socio-economic reasons behind these. The site also gives some insight into the impact of post-medieval enclosure of the commons and greens on the local landscape and the inhabitants of Mattishall.