November 1998 to December 1998

Foxglove in Thetford Warren
Foxglove in Thetford Warren, Thetford Forest

Forest-Walk 24

  • Forestry Compartment: High Lodge 3055 / 3056
  • Suffolk SMR: BRD Misc.
  • Parish: Brandon
  • Date: 22/11/98
  • Survey Area: 9.76 ha | Sample Fraction: 3.25%
  • Centre on: TL 7926 8533
  • Soil: Worlington (upland brown earths)
  • Relief: Flat (south), gradual north-facing slope (north)
  • Water: 1.3 km to Little Ouse | Height OD: c.40 metres

Finds included:

  • 1 unfinished or broken triangular flint arrowhead.
  • 1 informal flint scraper.
  • 8 retouched or notched flint flakes.
  • 29 unmodified flint flakes.
  • 1 flint waste core.
  • 7 burnt flints.

No post-medieval or modern finds. The area is located directly next to the Lingheath Post-Medieval flint mine complex. A linear bank extends along the eastern edge, damaged by forestry. Some flints are of deep black material; arrowhead blank suggests potential Early Bronze Age activity.

"Colour of flint varies from deep black to various greys. Abnormally large proportion of large and crudely worked flints, and although hinge fractures are only moderately common, this is mainly due to the flakes ending in cortex. 'Snapping' is unusually common as well. Of 40 worked flints 31 (77.5%) have cortex. A very unusual assemblage. Almost definitely prehistoric but probably mainly late, i.e. end of Late Bronze Age or Iron Age?"

— Notes by Colin Pendleton, Suffolk C.C.

Survey Metrics:

  • Lithic Sample Size: 40
  • Sample Area: 3,172 m²
  • Lithic Density: Medium (1.26 per are)
  • Burnt flint density: 0.22 per are

Forest-Walk 25

  • Forestry Compartment: Hockwold 6064 / 6065
  • Norfolk SMR: Recorded on parish file
  • Parish: Hockwold-cum-Wilton
  • Date: 25/11/98
  • Survey Area: 2.88 ha | Sample Fraction: 2.75%
  • Centre on: TL 7597 9083
  • Soil: Methwold/Worlington slope brown earth
  • Relief: Crosses dry valley slopes
  • Water: 4 km from Little Ouse | Height OD: 20 metres

Finds included: Nil.

Located directly next to the Fossditch and near recorded round barrows. The dry valley may have served as a long-term boundary, possibly explaining the absence of finds.

Survey Metrics:

  • Lithic Sample Size: 0
  • Sample Area: 792 m²
  • Lithic Density: Very Low (0.00 per are)
  • Burnt flint density: 0.00 per are

Forest-Walk 26

  • Forestry Compartment: Feltwell 1011
  • Norfolk SMR: 34165
  • Parish: Cranwich
  • Date: 29/11/98 and 13/12/98
  • Survey Area: 4.68 ha | Sample Fraction: 3%
  • Centre on: TL 7731 9324
  • Soil: Methwold/Worlington slope brown earth
  • Relief: Fairly flat
  • Water: 2.3 km from River Wissey | Height OD: 15-20 metres

Located next to Cranwich Field Barn (site 11237). A deep pit is located at TL 7737 9336.

Finds included:

  • 1 flint blade.
  • 3 retouched flint flakes.
  • 19 flint flakes.
  • 2 burnt flints.

"Some alleged Late Palaeolithic material is recorded from near Cranwich Field Barn. There is no indication in this collection of any early prehistoric material which would support this old and dubious designation."

— Notes by Peter Robins, Norfolk Museum Services

Survey Metrics:

  • Lithic Sample Size: 23
  • Sample Area: 1,404 m²
  • Lithic Density: Medium (1.64 per are)
  • Burnt flint density: 0.14 per are

Forest-Walk 27

  • Forestry Compartment: Feltwell 1089
  • Norfolk SMR: 34166
  • Parish: Weeting-with-Broomhill
  • Date: 13/12/98
  • Survey Area: 5.36 ha | Sample Fraction: 2.75%
  • Centre on: TL 7718 9046
  • Soil: Methwold/Worlington and Newmarket (calcareous)
  • Relief: Flat
  • Water: 3.4 km from Little Ouse | Height OD: 15 metres

Finds included:

  • 3 retouched flint flakes (including 1 possible piercer).
  • 10 flint flakes.
  • 1 three-platform flint waste core.

Light background scatter of brick and tile suggests post-medieval or modern cultivation.

Survey Metrics:

  • Lithic Sample Size: 14
  • Sample Area: 1,474 m²
  • Lithic Density: Low (0.95 per are)
  • Burnt flint density: 0.00 per are