Norfolk Archaeology 44 (4)

Report on a survey of the Ministry of Defence's Stanford Training Area (STANTA) covering both arable land and wooded areas. The results provide insight into the archaeology of central Breckland, especially with regard to earthworks concealed by woodland. The tally of fieldwalking finds is less impressive than that from the more northerly STANTA Extension. This is probably because the present survey covered much less arable land, almost all of which was peripheral to the former settlements which lie under grass. Had it been possible to examine all of the river valley terraces upon which settlements lay, it is argued that finds more closely comparable to those from the Extension might have been made, and that results from Langford and West Tofts offer some hints of this. The low level of finds on the surveyed arable reflects the former regime of heathlands, warrens and `brecks', only one area, in the northeast corner of the surveyed area, appearing to be an exception. The limitations imposed upon the scope of the woodland survey prevented fuller examination of earthworks surviving on areas of grassland.

In 2001 an excavation was conducted beside St Peter Mancroft church in Norwich, in advance of building development. The adjoining area had been subject to large-scale excavations in 1998--9, and the archaeological sequence and material of this excavation was interpreted within the context of this larger body of work. The excavation uncovered evidence, in the form of a ditch, a road and at least one structure, for the use of the site in the late Anglo-Saxon and post-Conquest periods. By the thirteenth century a series of plots had been laid out beside St Peter's Street. These supported a variety of uses, including mineral extraction, and acted as yards, roads or lanes. A number of buildings, both stone-built and of more ephemeral construction, were also identified. By the start of the twentieth century, much of the site lay within the yard of the White Hart Inn which formed the northern edge of the excavation. The report presents the archaeological evidence for this sequence of use, and summarises the finds recovered from the area. Includes separately authored contributions on

Note on a large stone slab at East Barsham church bearing the indent of a lost unidentified brass, probably dating to the late-fourteenth century, of a man in armour with footrest, sword and mercy-sword, accompanied by the outline of a much smaller figure, also in armour, and the outlines of two shields and of what appears to be the symbol of the Order of the Garter.

Article discussing the place-name Loddon (16km southeast of Norwich) as evidence of the survival of a Brittonic river-name, and therefore of a possible Celtic presence in that part of Norfolk into the Anglo-Saxon period.

Summary of results of the eighth season of work by the project.

Seventh part of a consecutive annual catalogue of medieval seal matrices.

Summaries of archaeological excavations, fieldwork and surveys carried out in Norfolk during 2004, arranged alphabetically by town or parish.