NORFOLK

(1) Aylsham, land at Woodgate House (TG 1833 2620): a community excavation revealed two pottery kilns, associated rake and waste pits and other features. Artefacts recovered include c. 15,000 sherds of pottery, pieces of kiln-lining, wasters and coins.Footnote ²³⁵

(2) Burgh Castle, village (TG 4817 0525): community excavated test-pits recovered pottery.Footnote ²³⁶

(3) Caistor St Edmund: (a) Venta Icenorum (TG 2394 0388): monitoring during the installation of gateposts within the temenos of the extramural temple uncovered no features or artefacts.Footnote ²³⁷ (b) River Tas, within Venta Icenorum (TG 2273 0328): archaeological monitoring during river restoration work recovered a sherd of greyware pottery and cattle and pig bones.Footnote ²³⁸

(c) Wymer Field (TG 235 036): following geophysical survey and test-pitting in a paddock 250 m north-east of the scheduled area of Caistor Roman town, a 23 by 3 m evaluation trench was opened to examine the condition of the triple-ditch system that surrounds the settlement area. Excavation had previously taken place across the southern line of the ditch system. The work was aimed at recovering datable evidence and infill history to support previous findings.

The ditches may have been purposely infilled only a few years after their construction, with any defensive banks slighted and partly pushed into the ditches. This matches the 2012 evidence for the ditches excavated on the southern side. A date in the mid-second century has been suggested for their infill; currently a similar date appears likely for the ditches where they cross Wymer Field. The pottery found comprises mostly local utilitarian Romano-British pottery, supplemented by a small quantity of traded and imported wares typical of the Roman pottery previously found at Caistor. Analysis of the pottery supports that both the inner and outer ditches were open and having broken pots thrown into them from the mid-second century. The ditches contain later Roman pottery in the backfill sequence which may require further analysis and interpretation. However, it would appear that the middle ditch was slightly later in date. The innermost southerly ditch contained a partially articulated horse placed at its base. It was missing its skull and one side of its jaw. It appeared to be a structured deposit, often thought of as part of an Iron Age tradition and noted in other excavations within the town.Footnote ²³⁹

(d) Framingham Earl–Bixley Mains Replacement (TG 24133 03869): a small evaluation and subsequent watching-brief were undertaken as part of the replacement of a mains water-pipe to the north-east of the Roman town at Caistor St Edmund. No archaeological features or deposits were encountered, although two first-century Roman coins were recovered by metal-detection during the watching-brief.Footnote ²⁴⁰

(4) Colby: hoard of 22 sestertii or lower denominations (where listed), extending from Hadrian (a.d. 117–38) to Otacilia Severa or Herennia Etruscilla (c. a.d. 244–51). Date of deposition c. a.d. 251.Footnote ²⁴¹

(5) Dereham I: hoard of 16 silver denarii: 1 each of Mark Antony (32–1 b.c.), Trajan (a.d. 98–117) and Commodus (a.d. 180–92); 4 of Septimius Severus (a.d. 193–211); 1 each of Julia Domna and Caracalla Caesar; 2 of Caracalla (joint reign with Severus); one each of Caracalla (a.d. 211–17) and Elagabalus (a.d. 218–22); 2 of Severus Alexander (a.d. 222–35); and 1 of Julia Mamaea.Footnote ²⁴² A further 11 silver/base silver denarii: 1 each of Faustina II (under Antoninus Pius) (a.d. 145–61), Marcus Aurelius (a.d. 161–80) and Commodus (a.d. 180–92); 2 each of Septimius Severus (a.d. 193–211) and Julia Domna; 1 each of Caracalla (a.d. 211–17) and Severus Alexander (a.d. 222–5); the rest uncertain Antonine or Severan.Footnote ²⁴³ Date of deposition c. a.d. 244.

(6) Dereham II: hoard of 16 silver denarii: 4 of Vespasian (a.d. 69–79); 2 of Vespasian or Titus (a.d. 69–81); 1 each of Diva Faustina I under Pius (a.d. 141–61), Faustina II under Marcus (a.d. 161–75) and Commodus (a.d. 180–92); 2 of Septimius Severus (a.d. 193–211); 1 of Clodius Albinus Caesar; 2 of Julia Domna; 1 each of Caracalla, joint rule with Severus (a.d. 198–209) and Severus Alexander (a.d. 222–35); latest coin minted a.d. 222–8, RIC 156. Date of deposition c. a.d. 228. Found in the same field as and broadly similar in composition to Dereham I. However, although concentrated in a small area it was found in a very different part of the field to the other coins and appears to represent a second deposit of denarii, very similar to the first. Double hoards deposited close to one another are well attested and it seems that this represents another such case. This second group contains proportionately more early material than Dereham I but it also represents a small sample.Footnote ²⁴⁴

(7) East Carleton I: hoard of 16 silver denarii: 5 of Vespasian (a.d. 69–79); 1 each of Titus Caesar and Domitian Caesar; 2 of Nerva (a.d. 96–8); 3 of Trajan (a.d. 98–117); 4 of Hadrian (a.d. 117–38). Date of deposition c. a.d. 138.Footnote ²⁴⁵

(8) East Carleton II: 6 clipped silver siliquae. Date of deposition c. a.d. 402.Footnote ²⁴⁶

(9) Great Ellingham, Attleborough Road (TM 0222 9711): an evaluation was undertaken in advance of proposed residential development at the site. A Romano-British cemetery is known nearby and the course of Attleborough Road is thought to follow that of a Roman road. In the northern corner of the site, three ditches of Romano-British date were revealed. The pottery recovered from these features suggested that they were located close to domestic settlement. A pattern of undated, but probably Romano-British and later, ditches was also recorded across the site; these may be evidence of an evolving pattern of property or field boundaries.Footnote ²⁴⁷

(10) Grimston: hoard of 8 gold solidi and 128 silver siliquae. Solidi: 4 of Constantius II (a.d. 337–61); 1 each of Constans (a.d. 337–50), Decentius (a.d. 351–3), Jovian (a.d. 363–4) and Valentinian I, joint reign with Valens (a.d. 364–7). Siliquae extending from Constantius II (a.d. 337–61) to Valens, joint reign with Valentinian I (a.d. 364–7). Date of deposition c. a.d. 367.Footnote ²⁴⁸

(11) Honingham, Thorpe Farms (TG 1207 1056): evaluation comprising 63 trenches was undertaken, revealing two truncated cremations in two separate trenches located towards the eastern side of the site. One is securely dated to the early Roman period and was accompanied by four iron nails and sherds belonging to a small, broken and incomplete greyware beaker that was probably locally produced in c. a.d. 75–95. It is currently unknown whether these were isolated cremations or part of one or more cemeteries.Footnote ²⁴⁹

(12) Hopton-on-Sea, land north of Hall Road (TG 5233 0023): following on from the first phase of excavation in 2014,Footnote ²⁵⁰ investigation of a c. 0.8 ha open area identified a rectangular settlement enclosure together with rubbish pits, two originally timber-lined wells, an oven, at least one building and an associated field and enclosure system which went through several phases of development. Circular ring-gullies with diameters of c. 3 m were located in some of the fields and are thought to be the remains of hayricks. The associated pottery and other artefactual evidence indicate a mid-first- to later second-century date for the majority of the activity. The previous phase of excavation on land directly to the south found another settlement enclosure, also occupied between the mid-first and second century. The juxtaposition of two contemporary Roman farmsteads within c. 100 m of one another poses interesting questions about the relationship between them, for example, whether they were occupied by members of a single extended family. Cropmarks visible in the surrounding area on aerial photographs clearly indicate a continuation of the excavated Roman field-system over a large area.Footnote ²⁵¹

(13) Ingoldisthorpe: 1 copper-alloy sestertius of Domitian (a.d. 81–96) and 13 copper-alloy dupondii/asses extending down to Faustina II under Pius (a.d. 145–61). Date of deposition c. a.d. 161.Footnote ²⁵²

(14) Kenninghall: 7 base metal radiates extending from Gallienus (joint reign a.d. 253–60) to Tetricus I (a.d. 271–4). Date of deposition c. a.d. 274.Footnote ²⁵³

(15) Marham: 8 base metal radiates of Carausius (a.d. 286–93) and Allectus (a.d. 293–6), additional to original find consisting of 14 copper-alloy radiates of same individuals.Footnote ²⁵⁴ A further 5 AE radiates of Carausius and Allectus to bring the total to 27.Footnote ²⁵⁵ Date of deposition c. a.d. 296.

(16) Old Buckenham: hoard of 19 silver coins, 11 Icenian silver units and 8 Roman denarii: Iceni: 2 each of Face-Horse type, Boar-Horse type and Pattern-Horse type; 1 of Pattern-Horse ANTED type; 3 of Pattern-Horse ECEN type; 1 of Pattern-Horse ECEN type with horse left. Roman denarii include 3 each of the Republic and Mark Antony (struck 32–1 b.c.), and 1 of Augustus (31 b.c.–a.d. 14). Date of deposition c. a.d. 60.Footnote ²⁵⁶

(17) Reedham, church of St John the Baptist (TG 4278 0249): following geophysical survey by ground-penetrating radar inside the church and across the churchyard, three 2 by 1 m trenches were excavated outside the west end of the church to evaluate responses. Two trenches, one immediately adjacent to the west face of the church tower, the other 7 m west of its north-west corner, revealed evidence (mortar, stone and brick fragments) of robbed Roman foundations. The third, 15 m to the south-west of the tower, proved negative in terms of possible Roman foundations.Footnote ²⁵⁷

(18) Scottow: hoard of 52 aes sestertii and lower denominations extending from Trajan (a.d. 98–117) to Philip I (a.d. 244–9). Date of deposition c. a.d. 249.Footnote ²⁵⁸

(19) Snettisham, Beach Road (TF 6765 3344): the site lies in an area with good evidence of Iron Age and Roman settlement activity, while cropmarks of enclosures and probable trackways have been identified immediately to the west and south of the site. The investigation revealed a network of linear ditches which aligned with cropmarks mapped from aerial photographs to the south-west. Artefacts recovered from the excavated features confirmed a first- to second-century date for this pattern of land division. In addition to Roman pottery and animal bone, iron-smithing slag was also recovered indicating some level of industrial activity. The pottery evidence suggests the site was abandoned prior to the third century.Footnote ²⁵⁹

(20) ‘South Norfolk’ I: hoard of 26 Roman silver denarii: 14 of the Republic; 2 of Mark Antony (32–1 b.c.); 6 of Augustus (31 b.c.–a.d. 14); 4 of Tiberius (a.d. 14–37), additional to earlier finds consisting of 59 and 54 silver denarii respectively. Date of deposition c. a.d. 37 or later.Footnote ²⁶⁰

(21) ‘South Norfolk’ II: hoard of 25 Icenian silver units and 22 Roman silver denarii. Silver units: 3 of Face-Horse type; 1 each of Boar-Horse type and ANTED Pattern-Horse type (previously recorded as NMS-D69316); 12 of ECEN Pattern-Horse type; 1 of SAENV Pattern-Horse type; 2 of uncertain Pattern-Horse type. Denarii: 16 of the Republic; 2 of Mark Antony (32–1 b.c.); 1 of Augustus (31 b.c.–a.d. 14); 3 of Tiberius (a.d. 14–37). Date of deposition c. a.d. 37 or later.Footnote ²⁶¹

(22) Southery, land north of Lions Close (TL 6243 9494): trial-trenching uncovered ditches, pits, gullies, 123 sherds of pottery (including samian, Lower Nene valley colour-coated ware, mortaria from Colchester and Oxfordshire and a range of coarsewares), fragments of tegulae and animal bone. The ditches are part of a field-system that was probably associated with a nearby (but as yet undiscovered) settlement.Footnote ²⁶²

(23) Themelthorpe: hoard of 15 silver denarii: 2 of Domitian (a.d. 81–96); 7 of Trajan (a.d. 98–117); 4 of Antoninus Pius (a.d. 138–61); 2 of Diva Faustina I. Date of deposition c. a.d. 161.Footnote ²⁶³

(24) Wymondham: hoard of 1 Iron Age gold stater, 3 Iron Age silver units and 19 Roman silver denarii. Stater: uninscribed East Anglian ‘Freckenham’. Silver East Anglian (‘Iceni’) units: 1 uninscribed East Anglian Boar/Horse type; 1 uncertain Pattern-Horse type fragment; 1 uncertain Face/Horse type fragment. Denarii include 9 of the Republic, 3 of Mark Antony (32–1 b.c.), 4 of Augustus (31 b.c.–a.d. 14) and 2 of Tiberius (a.d. 14–37). Date of deposition c. a.d. 37.Footnote ²⁶⁴

SUFFOLK

(1) Barham, land off Norwich Road (TM 13 50; BRH 066): an archaeological evaluation was undertaken prior to the submission of an application for the residential development of the site. A possible double-ditched enclosure, identified by geophysical survey, was targeted by the trenching and shown to date from the late Iron Age to the early Roman period. Three further ditches and a large pit could also be dated to this transitional Iron Age to Roman period.Footnote ²⁶⁵

(2) Brightwell, land west of Church Cottages (TM 24 43; BGL 049): open-area excavation across 2.14 ha was undertaken in advance of the creation of a reservoir. Two previous phases of archaeological work had identified a series of late Iron Age/early Roman ditches across the area. The excavation defined a rectilinear field-system following the edge of the high ground and overlooking the valley floor to the south, which dated from the middle to late Iron Age and the early Roman period. The system consisted of a possible droveway, aligned north–south, with enclosures to the east and west. Five post-holes, found to the south of the eastern enclosure, may form a six-post structure with the sixth post cut by the adjacent ditches, or a four-post structure, usually interpreted for this period as a granary. Three oval pits containing burnt deposits, one with evidence of in-situ burning, and two which contained third-/fourth-century Roman pottery may represent the only activity in the later Roman period, though they are not inconsistent with features found associated with early Anglo-Saxon activity, so may, in fact, be of this later date. Generally, finds quantities were low and pottery dates spanned a broad period with small assemblages from the Bronze Age to the medieval period, suggesting that this represented largely agricultural activity over a prolonged period rather than intense domestic settlement.Footnote ²⁶⁶

(3) Capel St Mary, land north and west of Capel Community Church, Days Green (TM 08 38; CSM 048): evaluation revealed a small number of features of prehistoric and Roman date. Several small ditches in the south of the site contained Roman pottery, while other small ditches on similar alignments were recorded in the south-east and west. The ditches were very small and appeared regularly spaced, which may suggest an agricultural origin. The dating evidence from the ditches and the position of the Roman villa (CSM 002) to the south suggest that Roman cultivation may have extended into the evaluation site.Footnote ²⁶⁷

(4) East Bergholt: 2 silver denarii of Tiberius (a.d. 14–37) and Nero (a.d. 54–68). Date of deposition c. a.d. 68.Footnote ²⁶⁸

(5) Easton, The Street, land adjacent to Easton Primary School (TM 2873 5841): an open-area excavation over c. 0.45 ha, on a south-east-facing slope close to the river Deben, found the southern edge of a Roman rural settlement. Evaluation trenches excavated in the field to the north in 2014 had identified remains of possible Roman buildings including a post-built structure, suggesting that the core of the settlement was further up the slope. The Roman deposits found in the excavation comprised rubbish pits and two large areas of dark soil containing Roman pottery and metalwork alongside residual prehistoric pottery and struck flint. The edge of the settlement was defined by a long-lived boundary ditch which had been reinstated multiple times.Footnote ²⁶⁹

(6) Great Whelnetham, land at Erskine Lodge, Stanningfield Road (TL 87 60; WLG 037): 15 trial-trenches were examined (Phase 2), following an earlier phase of trenching in 2015 (Phase 1). A low density of pits, ditches and post-holes was found, scattered across the site, the majority of which dated to the first to fourth century. Over half of the pottery assemblage was recovered from a pit in Trench 2, potentially representing structured deposition. An articulated Roman burial was exposed in Trench 5, towards the centre of the site. Environmental evidence from the site suggests that it is a peripheral zone, away from any focus of settlement or industrial activity.Footnote ²⁷⁰

(7) Hacheston (TM 31 57; HCH 047): an evaluation identified three cremation burials and at least one possible rectilinear field enclosure, all of prehistoric date. Roman activity comprised domestic and industrial features, including a pottery kiln, associated with the northern fringes of the Roman settlement recorded at Lower Hacheston.Footnote ²⁷¹

(8) Icklingham: 2 silver denarii, both of Tiberius (a.d. 14–37). Date of deposition c. a.d. 37 or later.Footnote ²⁷²

(9) Lavenham: 3 silver denarii: 1 each of Mark Antony (32–1 b.c.), Titus (a.d. 79–81), for Divus Vespasian, and Domitian (a.d. 81–96; minted a.d. 93/4).Footnote ²⁷³ A further silver denarius of Vespasian (a.d. 69–79), bringing the total to four. Date of deposition c. a.d. 94.Footnote ²⁷⁴

(10) Mildenhall, Thistley Green, West Row (TL 67 76; MNL 722, 724, 725, 726, 727): geophysical (magnetometry), systematic metal-detecting and fieldwalking surveys were carried out on fields around the probable findspot of the late Roman Mildenhall Treasure. These showed the extent of activity, which includes evidence for a Roman building, close to the findspot. The metal finds included late Roman objects and coins likely to be contemporary with the deposition of the treasure hoard in the late fourth or early fifth century.Footnote ²⁷⁵

(11) Orford: a worn copper-alloy unit, uninscribed south-eastern type, c. first century b.c, additional to hoard of six Iron Age silver units and a gold aureus of Nero (a.d. 54–68), struck a.d. 66–7.Footnote ²⁷⁶

(12) Red Lodge, land East of Kings Warren (TM 70 70; RDL 002): following evaluation, open-area excavation was carried out over an area of 1.87 ha, centred on a 45 m diameter early Bronze Age (OSL dated) ring-ditch. Although its original function is unclear, it was reused in the Roman period, with pottery, ranging in date from the first to fourth century, and coins being deposited in its upper fills. A small rectangular post-built structure of Roman date stood immediately east of the ring-ditch enclosure. Pits cut into its floor contained east-facing pig skulls, some with associated feet, often with coins placed on them. Painted wall-plaster, pottery and coins suggest this was a significant structure; a religious use of the building and of the adjacent reused prehistoric monument is posited. Further Roman features were present to the west, including a possible well. A north-west–south-east boundary ditch appears to have defined the western extent of this Roman activity and contained third-century pottery and a coin of a.d. 275–85 and a single prone inhumation in its upper fill.Footnote ²⁷⁷

(13) Saxmundham I: 2 Roman Republican silver denarii, one of M•BAEBI•Q•F (137 b.c.), the other of Octavian (43 b.c.). Date of deposition c. 43 b.c. or later.Footnote ²⁷⁸

(14) Saxmundham II: hoard of 18 silver siliquae (+27 fragments) and one AE nummus. Siliquae extend from a.d. 355–64 to 395–402; nummus of a.d. 367–75. Date of deposition c. a.d. 402.Footnote ²⁷⁹

(15) Sizewell, Wickham Market, Sizewell C (TM 31661 57306; ESF 24724): an evaluation identified several phases of Roman industrial activity, including a pottery kiln producing sand-tempered greyware vessels, wall footings, an oven and metalled surfaces. Several pits near the kiln contained refuse material indicative of domestic activity associated with the northern fringe of the Roman settlement at Lower Hacheston.Footnote ²⁸⁰

(16) South Elmham, St Mary (TM 28 85; SEY 017): following on from previous work, a small trench was dug on the edge of a potential building and another across a possible enclosure ditch. The first revealed a clay surface, which in conjunction with two other trenches indicates a likely extent of 20 by 20 m. Immediately outside this clay area was a narrow scatter of Roman roof-tile, possibly some brick, plaster and mortar. Roman pottery sherds and a pipe-clay hand from a figurine were found in this context. Prehistoric material was also discovered on what is thought to be a site of possible Roman religious significance.Footnote ²⁸¹

(17) Woodbridge I: 5 clipped silver siliquae extending from a.d. 355–63 to 395–402.Footnote ²⁸² A further silver siliqua of Arcadius or Honorius.Footnote ²⁸³ Date of deposition c. a.d. 402.

(18) Woodbridge II: 2 silver denarii of Antoninus Pius (a.d. 138–61), additional to a hoard deposited c. a.d. 176.Footnote ²⁸⁴

ESSEX

(1) Debden: hoard of 1 silver denarius and 16 silver siliquae. Denarius: Domitian (a.d. 81–96). Siliquae extending from a.d. 355–63 to 395–402. The denarius of Domitian is in very good condition and might therefore be a stray intruder into a small clipped siliquae hoard. Two silver jewellery fragments were found with the coins. They are either a Roman finger-ring broken into two with setting missing, or possibly two earrings. Date of deposition c. a.d. 402.Footnote ²⁸⁵

(2) Great Chesterford, Thorpe Lea, Walden Road (TL 5127 4278): evaluation to the south-east of the Roman town of Great Chesterford revealed a series of ditches on a similar north-west to south-east alignment dating from the mid- to late Roman period. The majority of features were located towards the south-western corner of the site and may represent boundary or possibly roadside ditches. A further shallow ditch or gully on a similar alignment was recorded in three trenches, located towards the centre of the site, and is notable as it contained a moderately large quantity of animal bone.Footnote ²⁸⁶

(3) Great Maplestead: hoard of 23 AE sestertii extending from Trajan (a.d. 98–117) to Marcus Aurelius (a.d. 161–80). Date of deposition c. a.d. 180.Footnote ²⁸⁷

(4) Ingatestone: 9 AE nummi and 1 barbarous radiate. Radiate: Divus Claudius (a.d. 270s–80s). Nummi of a.d. 330–5. One mid-fourth-century stray Fallen Horseman copy was also recovered from the findspot. Date of deposition c. a.d. 335.Footnote ²⁸⁸

(5) Little Waltham, Phases 3a and 3b, Channels Golf Club, Belstead Lane (TL 7229 1090): eight evaluation trenches were examined, followed by three areas of excavation. An early Roman trackway and ditch were uncovered in the southern part of the site, alongside a number of contemporary pits. The alignment of the trackway is similar to that of the Waltham to Braintree road which is thought to have its origins in the Roman period, suggesting that the trackway may have formed part of a wider communication network at this time.Footnote ²⁸⁹

(6) Little Warley: 3 silver siliquae extending from a.d. 355–60 to 395–402. Date of deposition c. a.d. 402.Footnote ²⁹⁰

(7) Old Harlow, land at Harlowbury (TL 4815 1225): fieldwalking identified a scatter of struck flint and a spread of ceramic building material, probably related to an adjacent scheduled Roman building.Footnote ²⁹¹

(8) Ramsey: hoard of 8 silver denarii and 14 sestertii and lower denominations. Denarii: 1 each of Mark Antony (32–1 b.c.), Otho (a.d. 69) and Domitian Caesar under Vespasian (a.d. 69–79); 2 of Trajan (a.d. 98–117); 1 each of Hadrian (a.d. 117–38), Antoninus Pius (a.d. 138–61) and Commodus (a.d. 180–92). Sestertii and lower denominations extend from Vespasian to Commodus; latest coin of Commodus, TR P XIIII = a.d. 188–9. A bronze pendant or fitting with trefoil design also found was probably early modern. Date of deposition c. a.d. 189.Footnote ²⁹²