Land At Little Melton Norfolk: Archaeological Evaluation

CFA Archaeology Ltd carried out an archaeological evaluation on a proposed housing development at 20-32 School Lane, Little Melton, Norwich, NR9 3AD (centred on TG 1618 0661). Ten trenches were excavated with several targeting geophysical anomalies. Three shallow linear gullies, a pit and a posthole were found in the NE part of the Site. Several fragments of Romano-British pottery were found in two of the ditch fills suggesting this area was possibly part of an Romano-British field system. The SW part of the Site revealed a series of enclosures. Several of these produced 11th and 12th century pottery. . On the north side was a small one containing a long oval pit 1.3m deep with vertical sides, possibly dug for sand or clay extraction. Three sides of a larger southern enclosure were found; this contained a shallow pit in the SW corner. In between the two enclosures was a large boundary ditch and a gully; the latter was on a different orientation to the other features in this part of the site and possibly pre-dated the medieval remains. On top of the gully fill were the fragmentary remains of a mortar and clay floor with an area of burning representing a hearth. No walls for a structure were found, but this appears to represent the floor of a building, probably part of a farmstead connected to the surrounding enclosures. Nearby in the subsoil were two fragments of Early to Middle Anglo Saxon pottery fragments reflecting possibly earlier occupation of the Site. The evaluation has revealed sparse remains in the NE part of the site which may be Romano-British and associated with settlement activity in this area. There was possible early to middle Anglo Saxon activity on the SW part of the site represented by a large unstratified pottery vessel in Trench 4. A complex of early medieval enclosures in the SW part of the site marked by ditches containing 11th and 12th century pottery. The partial remains of a floor surface and hearth for a building dating to the 11th century found in the centre of this is likely to be the remains of an early medieval farmstead that was surrounded by the agricultural enclosures.