November 1998 to December 1998

Forest-walk 24
Forestry Comp 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 on south side, but a gradual north-facing slope on north side.
Water - Little Ouse River 1.3 km
Height OD - c.40 metres.

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 surveyed area is located directly next to the Lingheath Post-Medieval flint mine com­plex. A linear bank extends into the surveyed area along the eastern edge, and has been ploughed over and damaged by forestry operations. Some of the flint finds are of a deep black material. I would suggest that they are of prehistoric origin - with fairly normal (for Thetford Forest) retouch and cortex counts. The hinge count is low, and the average flake is unusually broad. A slight cluster of flakes may lay around context C8 at TL 79348515 A. The arrowhead blank could suggest Early Bronze Age settlement in the vicinity.

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.

Lithic Sample Size = 40. Sample Area = 3172 M²
Medium Lithic Density for Forest-walk 24 = 1.26 per are². Burnt flint density = 0.22 per are²

Forest-walk 25
Forestry Comp 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 - partly calcareous slope brown earth.
Relief - Crosses slopes of ?dry valley.
Water - Little Ouse River 4 km.
Height OD - 20 metres.
No finds.

The surveyed area is located directly next to the Fossditch, and close to a number of re­corded round barrows. These earthworks may suggest that this dry valley has been used as a boundary throughout many periods, and if so, may explain the absence of finds.

Sample Area = 792 M²
All samples are nil > Very Low Density.

Forest-walk 26
Forestry Compartment Feltwell (Mundford Beat) 1011

Norfolk SMR - 34165
Parish - Cranwich. Date - 29/11/98, 13/12/98.
Survey Area - 4.68 ha. Sample Fraction - 3 %
Centre on TL 7731 9324.
Soil - Methwold/Worlington - partly calcareous slope brown earth.
Relief - fairly flat.
Water - River Wissey 2.3 km.
Height OD - 15 to 20 metres.
Transects were spaced at 30 metres distance apart.

The surveyed area is located directly next to Cranwich Field Barn (site 11237). A deep pit is located within the surveyed area at TL 77379336 C

1 flint blade.
2 retouched thermal flint flakes.
1 retouched flint flake.
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 for Norfolk Museum Services.

Lithic Sample Size = 23. Sample Area = 1404 M²
Medium Lithic Density for Forest-walk 26 = 1.64 per are². Burnt flint density = 0. 14 per are²

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 Methwold/Newmarket - shallow calcareous brownearth and rendzina.
Relief - flat.
Water - Little Ouse River 3.4 km.
Height OD - 15 metres.

3 retouched flint flakes, including 1 possible piercer.
10 flint flakes.
1 three platform flint waste core.

Light background scatter of brick and tile across entire survey area suggest post-medieval or modern cultivation previous to afforestation.

Lithic Sample Size = 14. Sample Area = 1474M²
Low Lithic Density for Forest-walk 27 = 0.95 per are². Burnt flint density = nil.