December 1997 to August 1998

Parasol mushrooms growing in a woodland clearing
Parasol mushrooms in Thetford Forest

Forest-Walk 14

  • Forestry Compartment: Elveden 2084
  • Suffolk SMR: ELV misc
  • Parish: Elveden
  • Date: 14/12/97
  • Survey Area: 4.32 ha | Sample Fraction: 3.75%
  • Centre on: TL 802 815
  • Soil: Worlington, deep upland brown earths
  • Relief: Flat
  • Water: 5.2 km to Little Ouse, 3.2 km to Horseshoe Pit | Height OD: 50 metres

Finds included:

  • 1 rim-sherd of Roman Rheinzabern Samian pottery.
  • 3 unmodified flint flakes.
  • 3 burnt flints.

No post-medieval or modern finds.

The single sherd of a Roman vessel could suggest possible cultivation, but might better be regarded as a rogue find.

Survey Metrics:

  • Lithic Sample Size: 3
  • Sample Area: 1,620 m²
  • Lithic Density: Very Low (0.19 per are)
  • Burnt flint density: 0.19 per are

Forest-Walk 15

  • Forestry Compartment: Didlington Highash 2049
  • Norfolk SMR: 33523
  • Parish: Ickburgh
  • Date: 07/02/98
  • Survey Area: 5.12 ha | Sample Fraction: 2.75%
  • Centre on: TL 820 973
  • Soil: Methwold / Worlington complex, semi-calcareous brown earths
  • Relief: South-facing
  • Water: 1.2 km from the River Wissey

Finds included:

  • 1 scrap-sherd of flint-gritted prehistoric pottery.
  • 4 retouched or notched flint flakes.
  • 16 unmodified flint flakes.
  • 2 burnt flints.

No post-medieval or modern finds.

Survey Metrics:

  • Lithic Sample Size: 20
  • Sample Area: 1,408 m²
  • Lithic Density: Medium (1.42 per are)
  • Burnt flint density: 0.14 per are

Forest-Walk 16

  • Forestry Compartment: Cranwich 4001
  • Norfolk SMR: 33522
  • Parish: Cranwich
  • Date: 15/02/98
  • Survey Area: 6.72 ha | Sample Fraction: 4%
  • Centre on: TL 773 950
  • Soil: Methwold / Worlington complex, a semi-calcareous brown earth; and Methwold / Newmarket complex, a calcareous rendzina
  • Relief: Flat, very gradually facing north
  • Water: 1 km from River Wissey | Height OD: 10 to 15 metres

Finds included:

  • 1 sherd of probable Iron Age pottery.
  • 2 sherds of unglazed Medieval pottery.
  • 1 flint piercer.
  • 3 informal flint scrapers.
  • 1 flint blade.
  • 4 retouched flint flakes.
  • 26 unmodified flint flakes.
  • 1 flint waste core.
  • 5 burnt flints.

A few sherds of post-medieval or modern bricks and tile noted.

Survey Metrics:

  • Lithic Sample Size: 36
  • Sample Area: 2,688 m²
  • Lithic Density: Medium (1.34 per are)
  • Burnt flint density: 0.19 per are

Forest-Walk 17

  • Forestry Compartment: Didlington Highash 2056 / 2058
  • Norfolk SMR: 3352
  • Parish: Ickburgh
  • Date: 16/02/98
  • Survey Area: 4.24 ha | Sample Fraction: 2.75%
  • Centre on: TL 823 963
  • Soil: Methwold / Worlington, semi-calcareous brown earths; and Redlodge / Worlington, semi-podzolised brown earths
  • Relief: South-east facing
  • Water: 800 metres to the River Wissey

Finds included:

  • 1 retouched flint flake.
  • 7 unmodified flint flakes.
  • 1 burnt flint.

A few sherds of brick and tile noted.

Survey Metrics:

  • Lithic Sample Size: 8
  • Sample Area: 1,166 m²
  • Lithic Density: Low (0.69 per are)
  • Burnt flint density: 0.09 per are

Forest-Walk 18

  • Forestry Compartment: Kings 4145
  • Suffolk SMR: WRW 024
  • Parish: Wordwell
  • Date: 19/08/98
  • Survey Area: 4.8 ha | Sample Fraction: 2.75%
  • Centre on: TL 8372 7578
  • Soil: Worlington, upland brown earth
  • Relief: Flat upland
  • Water: Rymer ponds 3 km, River Lark 5.5 km | Height OD: 55 metres

Finds included:

  • 1 sherd of Roman Samian pottery.
  • 2 sherds of Romano-British grey ware pottery (1 micaceous).
  • 1 scrap of oyster shell.
  • 1 barbed and tanged flint arrowhead (Early Bronze Age).
  • 4 flint scrapers.
  • 3 retouched or notched flint flakes.
  • 60 flint flakes.
  • 1 flint core rejuvenation flake.
  • 1 flint waste core.
  • 10 burnt flints.

No post-medieval or modern material seen.

The lithic density here is surprisingly high considering the upland soils and distance from water. The percentage of flakes with retouch is below average. The abraded pottery sherds suggest that the surveyed area was cultivated and manured with domestic waste during the Roman period—again surprising on these soils.

"Most flint mottled black/grey, some with light patination, most with cortex, relatively low grade. Only one is strongly patinated piece. Lack of blade element and relatively poor quality of flint and flint-working (and barbed and tanged arrowhead) suggest Bronze Age date for flints. The arrowhead is clearly of a higher quality flint which suggests the rest was locally collected. Roman pottery interesting in this location."

— Notes by Colin Pendleton, Suffolk C.C.

Survey Metrics:

  • Lithic Sample Size: 70
  • Sample Area: 1,320 m²
  • Lithic Density: High (5.3 per are)
  • Burnt flint density: 0.76 per are

Forest-Walk 19

  • Forestry Compartment: Brandon Park 2045 / 2046
  • Suffolk SMR: BRD 153
  • Parish: Brandon
  • Date: 31/08/98
  • Survey Area: 3.04 ha | Sample Fraction: 2.75%
  • Centre on: TL 7792 8365
  • Soil: Methwold / Worlington: shallow and partly calcareous slope brown earth
  • Relief: North-west facing slope
  • Water: Little Ouse 3 km, Fen edge pond (extinct) 1.5 km | Height OD: 20 to 25 metres

The surveyed area lies on slopes that lead up to an upland plateau.

Finds included:

  • 3 abraded sherds of Roman pottery.
  • 9 abraded sherds of Medieval pottery.
  • 26 retouched or notched flint flakes.
  • 112 flint flakes.
  • 5 flint waste cores.
  • 6 burnt flints.

No post-medieval or modern finds.

This survey produced by far the highest flint count of any forest-walk to date. Many of the flakes display edge wear and light retouch or notching. Colin Pendleton regards 68 of the flakes as 'utilised'. The workmanship is very poor, and the hinge count is high. A probable cluster of flakes exists around context C9 / C10 at TL 7797 8363 A. The abraded sherds of pottery indicate that this slope was cultivated and manured with domestic waste during both the Roman and Medieval periods. This despite the distance from a river.

"Degree of patination variable. Very poor standard of workmanship, squat flakes and numerous hinge fractures plus degree of re-utilisation of previously patinated flakes suggests residual earlier (Neolithic?) assemblage on principally Late Bronze Age / Iron Age site. Several very slight spoke shaves are an element of the utilised flakes."

— Notes by Colin Pendleton, Suffolk C.C.

Survey Metrics:

  • Lithic Sample Size: 143
  • Sample Area: 836 m²
  • Lithic Density: Very High (17.11 per are)
  • Burnt flint density: 0.76 per are