Norfolk Archaeology 41 (2)

Regular illicit metal-detecting of the extramural Roman temple site at Caistor St Edmund led to permission being given for a supervised metal-detector survey in order to assess the damage being done and to pre-empt some of the looting. The recovery of large numbers of Roman coins has allowed detailed study of the changing emphasis of site use, and the definition of an early- or pre-Roman phase. The use of metal-detectors in field survey has again been shown to provide valuable data suitable for fine analysis.

A variety of Mesolithic flint artefact types have been recovered from the area, including a rare type of petit-tranchet arrowhead. Microscopic charcoal found in borehole samples taken from round the mere are likely to result from small fires, which supports the likelihood of occupation at various intervals over a long period.

A partially-dispersed hoard of 153 silver Iron Age coins of the Iceni tribe were recovered, together with fragments of pottery and textile remains. It is likely that the hoard had originally been contained in the pottery vessel which had been sealed by a piece of cloth, which is described in `The textile remains' by Man-Yee </ze> Liu & Elisabeth </ze> Crowfoot (220). The deposition of the hoard is dated to the mid first century AD.