Another Earthwork Destroyed

A third earthwork in the Warren Woods area of Thetford Warren has been severely damaged through restocking operations. In this case, the earthwork had previously been surveyed and recorded onto the Norfolk Sites and Monuments Record by myself.

It is a small D-shaped earthwork enclosure, and was probably Post-Medieval to Modern, but has not been dated. Its function is unknown - it might have been a sheep pound of some sort. Restocking trenches have been cut through its banks. Only the disturbed area around the small pit inside the south bank has been left intact - no doubt the machinery could not cut over it. It was recorded onto the Norfolk SMR following a submission by myself, as 33607.

Report - 27th October 2000

Can You Identify?

Ian Hinton recently found the following ceramic object in the Forest. Andrew Rogerson of Norfolk Museums Services believes that it might be a 13th century medieval tallow lamp /burner, but had not previously seen one so small, and has doubts. Click on the below thumbnail images for larger scans. Can anyone help offer any suggestions? .

Report - May 16th 2000

Field-walking the Dove Valley

On the 7th May 2000, I joined Suffolk field-walker Tim Holt-Wilson, for a reconnaissance survey on his patch in the Dove Valley. The soils are generally heavier there than here in the Brecks, and it was a chance to compare finds between the two landscapes. We found a surprising high number of prehistoric flint finds, mainly of late (Bronze Age or Iron Age) date, but with a few patinated blade-like flakes, including a denticulated blade.

Report - 8th May 2000

The Project so far

The third season of the research project has come to a close with the onset of the woodlark breeding season. I have completed a mere five surveys this winter, compared with seventeen and sixteen the previous two winters. However, the project will continue. The total area of Thetford Forest surveyed now stands at 164 hectares. Of that, a sample of 51,464 square metres of disturbed surface have been so far walked and searched.

Report - March 2000

Forest-walk 38 - Oteringhythe

I have recently completed my last forest-walk survey of the 1999/2000 season. Forest-walk 38 took place on a forestry compartment, close to the Little Ouse River in Weeting, Norfolk. The survey is of particular interest because it took place immediately next to the site of the Deserted Medieval Vill of Oteringhythe. This settlement was recently rediscovered through documentary research carried out by David Dymond.

I am still processing finds from Forest-walk 38, but the indications are:

• It has produced the highest lithic density of any of the thirty eight surveys so far - a Very High Density of 18.1 struck flints per 100 square metres. Finds included several scrapers, also flake knives, and hammerstones.
• It was also the site of settlement during the Iron Age - several flint gritted sherds were collected.
• I have recovered some Roman ceramics, suggesting nearby settlement during that period. Finds included samien, and Nene Valley mortaria.
• Much of the survey area formed part of a medieval infield.
• The survey skirts the edge of the settlement area of the medieval vill. Broken tiles, including peg-tiles, concentrate along the bottom edge of the surveyed area.

Oteringhythe appears to have been an area attractive to settlement throughout several periods. Its recent abandonment appears to be the exception rather than the rule.

Report - February 2000