September 1997 to November 1997

The Surface-Collection Survey (SCS) Programme 1997 August

All transects were spaced 40 metres apart, unless stated otherwise. Stints were always 20 metres long. Measurements were made either by tape or cyclometer. Soil-types and hence landscape facets were deducted from W. Corbett's soil map of Thetford Forest

(Breckland Forest Soils 1973).

Methodology Page.

Forest-Walk 1

Forestry Compartment Kings 4036
Suffolk SMR - WSW 045.
Parish - West Stow. Date - 26-27/08/97.
Survey Area - 5.92 ha Sample Fraction - 2.75 %
Centre on TL 819 758
Soil - Worlington upland brown earth, but some Worlington / Worlington shallow phase, stripy slope brown earths.
Relief - flat, sloping only very gently facing west.
Water - 5 km to River Lark.

2 sherds of probable Early Bronze Age pottery (and a further 2 such sherds on reconnaissance, including one with a fingernail impression).
2 sherds of Romano-British pottery
2 flint convex scrapers
2 retouched flint flakes
8 unmodified flint flakes
2 (poor quality) flint waste cores.
4 burnt flints.
Background scatter of post-medieval and modern materials.

The presence of pre-Iron Age ceramics here must be considered significant, considering the soils and distance from known water source. Although the lithic density was low, several scrapers were recovered during the surveys on this area (forest walks 1, 2 and 3). The presence of apparent Roman manure scattered ceramics on forest-walks 1 and 2 is equally surprising and notable for this location.

Lithic sample size = 14. Sample Area = 1628 M²
Low Lithic Density for Forest-walk 1 = 0.86 per are² Burnt flint density = 0.24 per are²

Forest-walk 2

Forestry Compartment Kings 4037
Suffolk SMR - WSW Misc.
Parish - West Stow. Date - 30-31/08/97, 4/09/97.
Survey Area - 5.36 ha. Sample Fraction - 2.75 %
Centre on TL 814 757
Soil - Worlington / Worlington shallow phase, stripy slope brown earths.
Relief - gently facing south-east.
Water - 5 km to River Lark

A linear earthwork, probably a post-medieval field boundary, runs alongside the southern edge of the compartment.

1 sherd of ?prehistoric pottery.
5 sherds of Romano-British pottery (grey wares, colour-coated folded beaker and ?West Stow fineware).
1 small sub-square section of monumental oolitic limestone (probably post-medieval).
1 small flint bifacial flake knife.
5 flint convex scrapers.
5 retouched flint flakes.
20 unmodified flint flakes.
4 burnt flints.

Background scatter of post-medieval or modern rubbish on east side of compartment, but not on western end.

Comments as for the previous forest-walk. The number of scrapers is unusually high.

Lithic Sample Size = 31. Sample Area = 1471 M²
Medium Lithic Density for Forest-walk 2 = 2.1 per are². Burnt flint density = 0.27 per are².

Forest-walk 3.

Forestry Compartment Kings 4042
Suffolk SMR - WSW 046
Parish - West Stow. Date - 4/09/97.
Survey Area - 3.44 ha. Sample Fraction - 2.75 %
Centre on TL 821 756
Soil - Worlington, upland brown earth.
Relief - flat.
Water - 5 km to River Lark.

1 scrap-sherd of ?Bronze Age pottery.
1 flint convex end scraper.
4 unmodified flint flakes.
No post-med or modern material seen.
Lithic Sample Size = 5. Sample Area = 946 M²
Low Lithic Density for Forest-walk 3 = 0.53 per are² Burnt flint density = nil

Forest-walk 4

Forestry Compartment Hockwold 6074
Norfolk SMR - 33326
Parish - Hockwold-cum-wilton. Date - 22/11/97.
Survey Area - 2.56 ha. Sample Fraction - 2.75 %
Centre on TL 754 904
Soil - Methwold / Worlington complex. Semi-calcareous slope brown earths
Relief - South-west facing.
Water - 3.4 km to Little Ouse.

1 sherd of ?Romano-British pottery
5 unmodified flint flakes
3 burnt flints.

Slight background scatter of modern tiles and bricks noted.
Lithic Sample Size = 5. Sample Area = 704 M²
Low Lithic Density for Forest-walk 4 = 0.71 per are² Burnt flint density = 0.43 per are²

Forest-walk 5

Forestry Compartment Hockwold 6067
Norfolk SMR - 33325
Parish - Feltwell. Date - 15/11/97.
Survey Area - 3.84 ha. Sample Fraction - 2.75 %
Centre on TL 740 906
Soil - Methwold / Worlington complex. Semi-calcareous slope brown earths
Relief - Gradual south-facing slope.
Water - 3.4 km to Little Ouse.

2 flint borers / piercers
1 retouched flint flake
7 unmodified flint flakes
1 flint waste core.
1 burnt flint.

Lithic Sample Size = 11. Sample Area = 1056 M²
Low Lithic Density for Forest-walk 5 = 1.04 per are² Burnt flint density = 0.09 per are²

Forest-walk 6

Forestry Compartment Hockwold 6077
Norfolk SMR - 33324.
Parish - Feltwell. Date - 15/11/97.
Survey Area - 3.2 ha. Sample Fraction - 2.75 %
Centre on TL 745 906.
Soil - Freckenham / Redlodge complex, upland gravel brown earths and podzol soils.
Relief - South-west facing.
Water - 3.4 km to Little Ouse.

1 flint knife/scraper combination.
2 unmodified flint flakes.

No post-med or modern materials noted.
Lithic Sample Size = 3. Sample Area = 880 M²
Very Low Lithic Density for Forest-walk 6 = 0.34 per are². Burnt flint density = nil.