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A rough circle of possible timber posts situated within the intertidal zone off the Norfolk Coast north-east of Holme-next-the-Sea was the subject of a report by the Norfolk Sites and Monuments Record Officer in August 1998. The exact character and date of the site requires further investigation to assess its significance and potential.
The site is situated within the intertidal zone on the Norfolk coast to the north-east of the village of Holme-next-the-Sea (approximate NGR TF 7096 4535). It covers an area of c. 7.5m. The underlying geology of the site is Upper Chalk overlain by a series of Quaternary and Holocene deposits. A sequence of sands and gravels of marine and glacial/periglacial origin rest on the chalk. These are overlain by a variable distribution and thickness of forest bed deposits. Intertidal sand overlies these deposits.
Nothing is known about the site beyond the observations made by the Norfolk SMR Officer during a visit carried out on the 13th August 1998. These observations indicate that the site comprises a rough circle of timber post c. 7.5m across with forty-eight posts surrounding a large tree stump. Photographs and rough measurements were taken of the site and a sample of the wood was removed for radio-carbon dating. A Bronze Age axe was found within the area of the structure. The initial suggestion as to the nature of the site was that it was the remains of some sort of fishing structure.
The period resource assessments set out in the document Research and Archaeology: A Framework for the Eastern Counties (Glazebrook 1997) indicate that wooden structures of Bronze Age and prehistoric date in general are exceedingly rare and in need of further investigation. Drawing on this assessment, the aims of the project may be summarised as follows:
The investigation of the site will be undertaken in four stages. These can be characterised as follows:
Reconnaissance. A rapid examination of the site will be undertaken by a recognised specialist to provide an assessment of the structure regarding the wood-working technology utilised in its construction and possible relative date. An assessment report will be produced and utilised as a basis for decisions regarding further work on the site.
Field recording and artefact collection. The site will be located within the Ordnance Survey grid using a global positioning system and a plan of the timber elements will made at the appropriate scale. Any artefacts associated with the structure will be collected and a plot of their distribution across the site made. Samples for radiocarbon dating will be taken from selected timbers.
Finds processing. The cleaning and cataloguing of any artefactual materials recovered will carried out upon completion of the fieldwork. The finds will be cleaned, marked and packaged in accordance with the archive requirements of the Norfolk Museums Service.
Assessment. On completion of the fieldwork, an assessment of the significance and potential of each element (contextual, artefactual and environmental) of the excavation archive in relation to the project’s original objectives will be undertaken.
Report. An assessment report will be produced which will set out the potential of each element of the excavation archive and present an updated project design for post-excavation analysis together with a breakdown of the tasks and resources involved in completing the work to publication. The report will describe the results of the fieldwork with the data presented in tabular, graphic and appendix form. Copies will be submitted to English Heritage, to Norfolk Landscape Archaeology and to the Norfolk Sites and Monuments Record.
A rapid survey of the site will be undertaken to provide an assessment of the structure regarding the wood-working technology utilised in its construction and possible relative date. Appropriate sketch plans of structural features will be made to identify features requiring detailed recording.
An assessment report will be produced. This report will provide a characterisation of the wood-working technology of the structure, its possible date and will provide an assessment of the importance of the site.
The reconnaissance of the site will be undertaken by Ms. M. Taylor and two staff members of the Norfolk Archaeological Unit. It will comprise a systematic examination of the site at low tide together with any required recording. The fieldwork will involve one days’ work with an additional two days required for the preparation of the report.
A site grid of 5m squares will be laid out over the area of the timber structure and will be tied in to the National Grid using the global positioning system. This will form the basis for the recording of the structure which will be undertaken using standard archaeological techniques. The area will also be scanned using a metal detector.
Samples for radiocarbon and dendrochronological dating will be collected from suitable timber elements. In all instances, sampling procedures will follow the standard guidelines.
Environmental samples will be collected to determine the site’s depositional context using established techniques of recovery and analysis. Finds will be processed, recorded, conserved and stored in accordance with standard practice.
On the completion of the fieldwork an assessment of the archive will be undertaken in line with the recommendations set out in the document Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991). This assessment will involve a review of each element (contextual, artefactual and environmental) of the archive and an evaluation of its significance and potential to address the project’s original research objectives. An assessment report synthesising the results of the review and assessment will be prepared and will include a project design for post-fieldwork analysis.
The cross-referencing and checking of the written/drawn/photographic archive will be undertaken and all contextual data recorded on a computerised database to allow the summary listing of contextual information. A full matrix of structural relationships and accompanying text sections will be prepared in order to establish the phasing of the site.
All artefacts recovered will be recorded on a computerised database to allow the summary listing of artefacts by category and context and to provide basic quantification. Those classes of artefacts which are appropriate for use as dating evidence will be examined with a view to providing spot-dates for specific contexts and elements of the monument. The quantification and spot-dating of artefact categories will provide the information for assessments of potential to be made and for analysis proposals to be advanced. Further recommendations relating to artefact discard will be made as part of the assessment document and will conform to the policies of Norfolk Museum Service.
Conservation of samples taken as examples of wood-working technology and any finds requiring stabilisation will be undertaken by the Conservation Department at Norwich Castle Museum. Costs for the use of staff and facilities at Norwich Castle Museum have been included within the budget according to a formula agreed with the Conservation Department. Artefacts requiring stabilisation will be treated as required. X-radiography will also be undertaken on a representative sample of metal objects to assist their assessment. An assessment of any additional conservation requirements will also be undertaken. This assessment will identify the range, variety and condition of finds requiring treatment and the appropriate conservation methodology and analytical techniques for their treatment. Ecofactual materials and environmental samples will be assessed for their potential to assist in the characterisation and interpretation of the structure. Other environmental samples taken will be assessed using recognised procedures for the particular category of material. In all cases assessment will follow standard procedures.
A site summary, drawn up on the basis of the available contextual and artefactual evidence will be used as the basis for the assessment report.
In line with the recommendations set out in the document Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991) an assessment report will be prepared on completion of the assessment stage of the project. This report will present a summary and an assessment of the potential of each element (contextual, artefactual and environmental) of the archive to address the project’s original research objectives and will include an updated project design for post-fieldwork analysis. Data will be presented in tabular, graphic and appendix form. A list of archive components generated by the work will also be included in the report.
A single integrated archive will be prepared according to the recommendations set out in Environmental standards for the permanent storage of excavated material from archaeological sites (UKIC 1984) and Guidelines for the preparation of excavation archives for long-term storage (Walker 1990) and in accordance with the Norfolk Museums Service’s own requirements for archive preparation, storage and conservation.
English Heritage 1991 Management of Archaeological Projects English Heritage, London.
Glazebrook, J. 1997 Research and Archaeology. A Framework for the Eastern Counties. 1: Resource Assessment East Anglian Archaeology Occasional Papers No 3.
UKIC 1984 Environmental standards for the permanent storage of excavated material from archaeological sites United Kingdom Institute of Conservators Conservation Guidelines 3.
Walker, K. 1990 Guidelines for the preparation of excavation archives for long-term storage.
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