The King's Forest, Wordwell and West Stow, Suffolk

The King’s Forest, Wordwell and

West Stow, Suffolk

Archaeological Watching Brief Report

Ap ril 2020

Client: Forestry England

Issue No: TWO Site code: XSFKFW20 NGR: TL 8171 5080 Report No: 2409 Event©Oxford No: Archaeology WSW218 Ltd 9 April 2020 OASIS No: oxfordar3-380585

The Kings Forest, Wordwell and West Stow, Suffolk V.1

Client Name: Forestry England via David Robertson Document Title: The Kings Forest, Wordwell and West Stow, Suffolk Document Type: Archaeological Watching Brief Report Report No.: 2409 Grid Reference: TL 8171 5080 Planning Reference: Site Code: WSW218 Invoice Code: XSFKFW20 Receiving Body: Suffolk County Council Stores (SCCS) Accession No.: WSW218

OA Document File Location: Y:\Suffolk\XSFKFW20_Kings Forest, West Stow\Project Reports OA Graphics File Location: Y:\Suffolk\XSFKFW20_Kings Forest, West Stow\Project Data\Graphics

Issue No: TWO Date: 09/04/2020 Prepared by: Daria Adamson (Assistant Supervisor) Checked by: Liz Muldowney (Senior Project Manager) Edited by: Graeme Clarke (Post-Excavation Project Officer) Approved for Issue by: Paul Spoerry (Regional Manager) Signature:

Disclaimer: This document has been prepared for the titled project or named part thereof and should not be relied upon or used for any other project without an independent check being carried out as to its suitability and prior written authority of Oxford Archaeology being obtained. Oxford Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability for the consequences of this document being used for a purpose other than the purposes for which it was commissioned. Any person/party using or relying on the document for such other purposes agrees and will by such use or reliance be taken to confirm their agreement to indemnify Oxford Archaeology for all loss or damage resulting therefrom. Oxford Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability for this document to any party other than the person/party by whom it was commissioned.

OA South OA East OA North Janus House 15 Trafalgar Way Mill 3 Osney Mead Bar Hill Moor Lane Mills Oxford Cambridge Moor Lane OX2 0ES CB23 8SQ Lancaster LA1 1QD t. +44 (0)1865 263 800 t. +44 (0)1223 850 500 t. +44 (0)1524 880 250

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©Oxford Archaeology Ltd 9 April 2020

The Kings Forest, Wordwell and West Stow, Suffolk V.1

The Kings Forest, Wordwell and West Stow, Suffolk

Archaeological Watching Brief Report

Written by Daria Adamson MA ACIfA

With contributions from Denis Sami PhD, Lawrence Billington MA PhD and illustrations by Dave Brown BA

Contents

Summary ...... vii Acknowledgements ...... viii 1 INTRODUCTION ...... 1 1.1 Scope of work ...... 1 1.2 Location, topography and geology ...... 1 1.3 Archaeological and historical background ...... 1 2 WATCHING BRIEF AIMS AND METHODOLOGY ...... 5 2.1 Aims ...... 5 2.2 Methodology ...... 5 3 RESULTS ...... 6 3.1 Introduction and presentation of results ...... 6 3.2 General soils and ground conditions...... 6 3.3 General distribution of archaeological deposits ...... 6 3.4 Blocks 57-59 ...... 6 3.5 Block 40 ...... 6 3.6 Finds summary ...... 7 4 DISCUSSION ...... 8 4.1 Reliability of field investigation ...... 8 4.2 Watching Brief objectives and results ...... 8 4.3 Interpretation ...... 8 4.4 Significance ...... 8 APPENDIX A DESCRIPTIONS AND CONTEXT INVENTORY ...... 9 APPENDIX B FINDS REPORTS ...... 10 B.1 Metalwork ...... 10 B.2 Flint ...... 13 APPENDIX C BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 15 APPENDIX D OASIS REPORT FORM ...... 16

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The Kings Forest, Wordwell and West Stow, Suffolk V.1 List of Figures Fig. 1 Site location showing forestry clearance blocks (black) with monitored blocks (red) Fig. 2 HER entries mentioned in the text Fig. 3 Metalwork distribution in Blocks 57/58 and 59 Fig. 4 Metalwork distribution in Block 40

List of Plates Plate 1 Block 59, looking south-west Plate 2 Block 57/58, looking south-west Plate 3 Block 40, looking east Plate 4 Block 40, looking south-west Plate 5 WWII ammunition scatter from Blocks 57/58 and 59 Plate 6 Metal finds from Block 40

List of Tables Table 1 Total of artefacts by metal Table 2 Catalogue of metalwork finds Table 3 Quantification of the flint assemblage

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The Kings Forest, Wordwell and West Stow, Suffolk V.1 Summary

In January 2020, archaeological monitoring and metal detecting were carried out by OA East in two areas identified with high potential for archaeological remains during forest clearance works by Forestry England at Kings Forest, West Stow, Suffolk. During monitoring the mulch was removed in all areas, and topsoil was also removed in Blocks 57/58 and 59. No archaeological remains were encountered at the stripped horizon. A large number of .303 calibre bullets were recovered during the metal detecting survey in Blocks 57-59 suggesting the likely presence of a WWII practice target in the vicinity. A total of 24 prehistoric flints including a scraper and a core were also recorded from this area. Block 40 produced modern iron nails, two post-medieval buttons, a medieval trade token, a few clothing and horse accessories (such as buckles and strap fittings), and three Roman coins. All these finds are consistent with previous records of multi-period activity in the area but do not add any valuable contribution to the regional research objectives.

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The Kings Forest, Wordwell and West Stow, Suffolk V.1 Acknowledgements

OA East would like to thank Forestry England for commissioning this project. Thanks are also extended to David Robertson, the Forest England Regional Historic Environment Advisor, who monitored the work. The works were undertake as part of Natural England’s Heritage Lottery Fund funded Shifting Sands project (https://naturebftb.co.uk/the-projects/shifting-sands/) and the wider Back from the Brink project (https://naturebftb.co.uk/). The project was managed for OA East by Liz Muldowney. The fieldwork was directed by Daria Adamson. Survey and digitizing were carried out by Gareth Rees and Izzie Ward. Thanks is also extended to the teams of OA East staff that cleaned and packaged the finds under the management of Natasha Dodwell, and prepared the archive under the supervision of Katherine Hamilton.

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The Kings Forest, Wordwell and West Stow, Suffolk V.1

1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Scope of work 1.1.1 Oxford Archaeology East (OA East) was commissioned by Forestry England to undertake a watching brief at the site of forest clearance works for conservation purposes within Blocks 57/58 to 59 and Block 40 within King’s Forest, West Stow (Fig. 1). The clearance works were undertaken as part of Natural England’s Heritage Lottery Fund funded Shifting Sands project (https://naturebftb.co.uk/the-projects/shifting- sands/) and the wider Back from the Brink project (https://naturebftb.co.uk/). The work was outside the standard planning process but followed the brief set out by the Forestry England Regional Historic Environment Advisor (Robertson 2019) in consultation with Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service (SCCAS). A Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) was produced by OA East (Muldowney 2020) detailing Forestry England’s requirements for the work. This document outlines how OA East implemented the specified requirements. 1.2 Location, topography and geology 1.2.1 The site lies on a gentle north-east to south-west slope falling to the broadly west- north-west to east-south-east aligned Lark River valley. Blocks 57-59 are sited approximately 2km to the north of the River Lark at approximately 50m above Ordnance Datum (OD), and Block 40 is on the lower valley slope at 1km from the current river course at approximately 30m OD. 1.2.2 Bedrock geology is recorded as Lewes Nodular Chalk Formation, Seaford Chalk. The chalk is overlaid by superficial coversands and glacial sands and gravels typical for the Brecklands. (British Geological Survey online map viewer http://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/geologyOfBritain/viewer.html, accessed 13/01/2020). 1.2.3 King’s Forest forms part of the broader Thetford Forest area and was named for the 1935 Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary. It is part of the Breckland Forest Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designated for a range of rare flora and fauna present, and a Special Protection Area (SPA) for the Woodlark and Nightjar. Blocks 57- 59 are sited 100m to the east of a Scheduled prehistoric burial mound. 1.2.4 As a managed pine forest many areas have been subjected to mechanical plantation, felling and stump clearance. Historic maps indicate that till the middle of the 20th century large parts of the now wooded areas were parcels of farmland and therefore likely subject to plough erosion. 1.3 Archaeological and historical background 1.3.1 This is a summary of the known archaeological remains in the vicinity of the monitored areas, drawing on information in the Suffolk Historic Environment Record (SHER), Suffolk Records Office and the Forestry England heritage dataset shared with OA in January 2020, illustrated on Fig. 2.

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The Kings Forest, Wordwell and West Stow, Suffolk V.1 1.3.2 The overwhelming majority of the known archaeological assets in the vicinity of the two areas are prehistoric in date and mostly relate to findspots for flint artefacts recovered from the forest area as well as likely or probable burial mounds. Known remains of later date are limited in number but relate to significant assets including a probable Romano-British road, Iron Age and Roman settlement at West Stow which continued as the extensive West Stow Anglo-Saxon village, plus a deserted medieval village (DMV) at Wordwell. Palaeolithic 1.3.3 Immediately to the south of Block 40 palaeolithic implements were recovered from material derived from a pit dug to bury tree stumps (WSW010). Neolithic 1.3.4 Neolithic artefacts have been recovered from several locations in the vicinity of the two areas. 1.3.5 A reworked stone axe fragment (WSW021) and a collection of flint artefacts including an arrowhead, scrapers, cores and hammerstones (WSW023) all dated to the Neolithic were recorded within the area of Block 57/58. North of the block two more worked flints were recorded (WSW117; not illustrated). 1.3.6 Approximately halfway between the two blocks, a group of 50 plus flint artefacts (WSW066) believed to date to the Neolithic were recovered in association with Romano-British, Saxon and Medieval pottery. Just to the south of this group a further Neolithic flint arrowhead (WSW080) was recovered. 1.3.7 A Neolithic flint knife (WSW020) was recorded approximately 200m to the south of Block 57/58. A further group of similarly dated flint artefacts including an arrowhead (WSW019) was recorded approximately 400m to the south of this block and 400m to the west of Block 40. Further south of Block 40 about 14 worked flints were recovered from a de-stumped area (WSW070), and a grey flint chisel was picked up in the fields to the east (WSW016). Bronze Age 1.3.8 Five known and possible burial mounds have been recorded in the vicinity of the two blocks. All are undated but are likely to have been later Neolithic of Bronze Age in date on the basis of their form. 1.3.9 The remains of a Bowl Barrow (WSW013) lies just to the west of Block 57/58, 59. This feature is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM31117) and has a diameter of 32m. Its northern side is described as plough damaged. 1.3.10 A possible 30m diameter round barrow (WRW059) recorded on LiDAR data is located c. 600m to the east of Block 57/58, 59 and c. 900m north of Block 40. 1.3.11 A group of three possible round barrows was identified approximately 700m to the north-east of Block 40. Feature WSW072 is very small at approximately 7m in diameter; WSW073 measures 20m in diameter; WSW074 measures 15m in diameter. All three are rather small for barrows.

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The Kings Forest, Wordwell and West Stow, Suffolk V.1 1.3.12 Three groups of flint artefacts (WSW055, WSW056, WSW057) dated to the Bronze Age were recovered within a closely defined area approximately 500m to the south-west of Block 40. Another flint scatter (WSW054) was found slighter further to the south- west.

Iron Age 1.3.13 An Iron Age settlement was identified during archaeological investigations at the multi-period West Stow Village site (WSW002). No other Iron Age remains were positively identified in the area investigated. Roman 1.3.14 The West Stow Village excavations (WSW002) revealed that activity continued here during the 1st to mid-2nd centuries AD when a pottery production centre was located here. It seems that later Roman activity was not recorded here. 1.3.15 Just to the north of this site is the line of the possible east to west aligned Roman road from Pakenham Fort to Icklingham (WSW069). About 720m west of Blocks 57-59 runs Icknield Way (IKL105), possibly along the course of earlier prehistoric tracks. 1.3.16 Elsewhere evidence for Roman activity is scattered through the area with a number of coins and votive artefacts collected by metal detectorists. Small amounts of Roman pottery (WSW066) were recovered from an area between the two blocks, and another scatter of abraded Roman pottery was located 600m south-west of Block 40. A Roman brooch and coin (WSWMISC; not illustrated) were recovered by metal detectorists from an area close to the possible Roman road approximately 300m to the south-east of Block 40. Another brooch, Colchester derivative type, (WSW177) was found further south-east. Roman pottery was also recovered as a surface find from the vicinity of the Wordwell DMV (WRW003) approximately 1.4km to the east of Block 40. Anglo-Saxon and Early Medieval 1.3.17 The most significant and extensive Anglo-Saxon and early medieval assets dated from the 4th to 7th centuries AD within the search area are located at the West Stow Village site (WSW002). Excavations here revealed numerous sunken featured buildings (SFBs) as well as post-built hall type structures and other features related to an extensive village settlement. This area is now a country park with reconstructed historical elements. A similarly dated cemetery site was excavated immediately to the east of the settlement areas (WSW003). 1.3.18 Low volumes of pottery dating from this period were recovered from the area between the two blocks (WSW066). A single sherd of pottery (WSW034) was recovered from 200m to the west of Block 40. 1.3.19 A Saxon antler knife handle (WSW025) was recovered from the area associated with the Anglo-Saxon cemetery (WSW003). 1.3.20 The remains of a DMV (WRW003) were recorded at Wordwell, these are believed to have been ploughed out in the early 1970s. Medieval

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The Kings Forest, Wordwell and West Stow, Suffolk V.1 1.3.21 A few items of later medieval metalwork were found in the vicinity of monitored areas. A medieval buckle (WSW105) and a scatter of glazed and unglazed pottery (WSW015) were found east of Block 40. To the south a Nuremberg jetton and Boy Bishop token (WSW115) were found in a garden as well as further metalwork including another jetton, a lead seal and a coin. Undated 1.3.22 Cropmarks show a possible three-sided enclosure (WRW039) in the area immediately to the east of the Wordwell DMV. Between the DMV and Block 40 runs another undated bank (WRW023), possibly a parish boundary or a former boundary between heath and arable land. Abutting its west side is a semi-circular banked enclosure earthwork (WRW058). 1.3.23 Excavations for an electricity cable trench excavated in 1967 in an area approximately 400m to the east of Block 40 exposed skeletal remains (WRW010) believed to form part of a possible cemetery of unknown date. Post-medieval and modern 1.3.24 Ordnance Survey maps from the late 19th and early 20th centuries show that the majority of the now forested area was a series of open arable fields separated by linear tree belts. The majority of these tree belts correspond to the present track/ride locations within the forest. The areas were in cultivation till sometime between 1905 when the King’s Forest was created following King George V’s Silver Jubilee and 1952 when the maps show the area as tree plantations. 1.3.25 A number of banks are recorded on the HER and probably relate to the post-medieval tree belts and subsequent forest activities. 1.3.26 About 1km south of block 40 was a temporary tented encampment dated to World War I used during tank training and testing (WSW006).

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The Kings Forest, Wordwell and West Stow, Suffolk V.1

2 WATCHING BRIEF AIMS AND METHODOLOGY 2.1 Aims 2.1.1 The project aims and objectives defined in the WSI (Muldowney 2020) are as follows: i. To investigate and record archaeological features or deposits encountered during ground works; and ii. To undertake metal detecting of both the excavated areas and spoil heaps to aid recovery of metal objects. 2.2 Methodology 2.2.1 In accordance with the WSI, a total of three areas were monitored during this watching brief. Blocks 57/58 and 59 were adjacent to each other and had the mulch and topsoil mechanically removed from across the total area of c. 1.1ha. Block 40, measuring approximately 0.64ha, only had the mulch removed to leave most of the topsoil layer intact in order to minimise impact on any potential archaeological resource in this area. The results of the monitoring of this work are described in Section 3 below. 2.2.2 The machine stripping was carried out by the Client using a 360o 16-tonne tracked mechanical excavator with a 1.5m-wide toothless ditching bucket. 2.2.3 All machine excavation took place under the supervision of a suitably qualified and experienced archaeologist. 2.2.4 Overburden, as specified by the Client, was stripped to the depth required for the prescribed Forestry works in spits not greater than 0.1m thick. 2.2.5 Spoil and exposed surfaces were scanned with a metal detector which was set to not discriminate against iron. This was carried out by on-site archaeologist and an experienced metal detectorist, Steve Critchley. The location of any finds from metal detecting were recorded using a hand-held Leica GPS. 2.2.6 No environmental samples were taken from this site. 2.2.7 The subsoil surface revealed at Blocks 57-59 was hand cleaned using a trowel and a hoe and examined for archaeological deposits and artefacts. No archaeological features or deposits were identified within the monitored areas. 2.2.8 Records comprised written and photographic data, with OA East watching brief pro- forma sheets used to record daily progress. A register was kept of the deposits, finds and photographs. All deposits were issued with unique context numbers. 2.2.9 High-resolution digital photographs were taken of all relevant finds and deposits, as well as general site shots. Photographs include a scale, north arrow, site code and deposit/find number (where relevant) unless they were to be used in publications, with the photograph register recording these details and photograph numbers listed on the corresponding context sheets.

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The Kings Forest, Wordwell and West Stow, Suffolk V.1

3 RESULTS 3.1 Introduction and presentation of results 3.1.1 The results of the watching brief are presented below and include a brief description of the monitored blocks. The full details of each block with dimensions and depths of all deposits can be found in Appendix A. Data and spot dates relating to the metalwork items recovered through metal detecting and flintwork recovered from the excavated mulch and topsoil/subsoil are tabulated in Appendix B. The distribution of the metalwork by is plotted by category for Blocks 57-59 and Block 40 on Figures 3 and 4 respectively. 3.2 General soils and ground conditions 3.2.1 The observed soil sequence was generally consistent. Block 40 had a disturbed subsoil horizon, resulting from reworking and destumping activities and only a thin layer (c. 0.05m thick) of dark greyish brown silty sand topsoil (102). Block 57-59 had an interface layer of mid brownish grey silty sand (101) overlain by dark greyish brown silty sand topsoil (100) approximately 0.05-0.10m thick. 3.2.2 Ground conditions throughout the watching brief were generally good, and the site remained dry throughout. 3.3 General distribution of archaeological deposits 3.3.1 No archaeological features or deposits were present in either monitored block. The results of monitoring and metal detecting survey are discussed in greater detail below. 3.4 Blocks 57-59 3.4.1 Blocks 57/58 and 59 (Fig. 3) were cleared of mulch and most of the topsoil (100) down to an interface layer (101; Plate 1). The area was very disturbed due to tree clearance, stumps and rooting, with no signs of any surviving archaeological remains. Wheel ruts visible in Block 57/58 (Plate 2) were left during previous thinning of planted trees which run parallel to the stumps. 3.4.2 A total of 24 worked flints, including a scraper and core broadly dated to the Later Neolithic/ Early Bronze Age, were recovered from the excavated topsoil. 3.4.3 Metal detecting during the stripping in this area produced: a medieval copper alloy artefact (SF 100); and 92 of modern .303 bullets (SF 101-108, 111-112, 114-130, 132- 196; Plate 5) along with three iron nails (SF 109, 110 and 131) and a knife fragment (SF 113). Their distribution is shown on Figure 3. 3.5 Block 40 3.5.1 In Block 40 the mulch was scraped leaving most of the topsoil (102) intact. No archaeological remains were visible during monitoring (Plates 3 and 4). 3.5.2 Metal detecting this block produced: three Roman coins (SF 208, 212 and 220); medieval copper alloy buckle (SF 218, 222, 224 and 227) and sheet metal (SF 221, 223, 226 and 228) fragments; a post-medieval copper alloy trade token (SF 219)and two buttons (210 and 217); and modern shotgun cartridges (SF 206 and 207), a .303 bullet ©Oxford Archaeology Ltd 6 9 April 2020

The Kings Forest, Wordwell and West Stow, Suffolk V.1 (SF 225), a possible ferrule (SF 213), iron nails (197-199, 201, 203-205, 209, 211, 215 and 216), a horse harness fitment (SF 202) and a chain loop (200). Their distribution is shown on Figure 4. 3.5.3 A few fragments of modern brick were also observed along the edge of the block as part of the make-up of a trackway. 3.6 Finds summary 3.6.1 A total of 50 metal objects (including a selection of the .303 WWII bullets) was recovered from Block 40 and Blocks 57-59, of which 40 comprise medieval and post- medieval finds as well as three Roman coins (Plate 6). The majority were hand forged iron nails used in construction, with the rest comprising a trade token, two undecorated buttons, dress and horse accessories. Blocks 57-59 have also produced a large number of probably World War II era .303 calibre bullets and bullet casings that were not retained but were identified and passed back to the Client (Plate 5). 3.6.2 A total of 24 worked flints, including a retouched short end scraper, were recovered from Blocks 57-59 and broadly date to Later Neolithic/Early Bronze Age. The rest of the assemblage consists of unretouched removals and a minimally worked core. 3.6.3 These finds are consistent with the multi-period activity recorded in the area but do not add any valuable contribution to the regional research objectives.

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The Kings Forest, Wordwell and West Stow, Suffolk V.1

4 DISCUSSION 4.1 Reliability of field investigation 4.1.1 The monitored areas were scraped of mulch, and in places where the topsoil was excavated, exposed the upper layers of the underlying subsoil which was found to have been disturbed as the result of forestry works and clearances in the 20th century. The natural geology was not reached during this monitoring work. The metal detecting survey is likely to have been reliable in both monitored areas as light soils which made- up the overburden was unlikely to have adversely impacted the sensors. 4.2 Watching Brief objectives and results 4.2.1 The overall aim of the investigation: to investigate and record archaeological features or deposits encountered during ground works; and to undertake metal detecting of both the excavated areas and spoil heaps to aid recovery of metal objects, has been met. No features were identified, and all finds, with the exception of the clearly identifiably modern material (including the bullets), were collected and recorded. 4.3 Interpretation 4.3.1 The Later Neolithic/Early Bronze Age flints recovered from Blocks 57-59 are consistent with other evidence of prehistoric activity in the area such as the flint scatters and monuments presented in the Archaeological Background (see Section 1.3). These are likely to reflect prehistoric exploitation of the area. It is of interest that no flints were recovered from the monitoring of Block 40, perhaps as a result of the retention of the topsoil coverage in this block, rather than being a true reflection of a disparity of deposition. Similarly, the distinct difference in distribution of the metalwork between these two areas may also be attributed to the same cause. 4.3.2 The Roman coins recovered during metal detecting survey in Block 40 are consistent with other finds in the area. They are likely to represent casual loss associated with Roman activity nearby. 4.3.3 The medieval and post-medieval items including the trade token, buttons, dress and horse accessories might derive from activity associated with Wordwell DMV to the east and later agricultural use of the land prior to its reforestation in the 20th century. 4.3.4 The large number of .303 calibre bullets recovered from Blocks 57-59 suggests a target area or practice range was set up in this location sometime in the earlier part of the 20th century, perhaps during World War II. Most were not distorted indicating soft- surface entry. No evidence on the ground of a range or target location survives. 4.3.5 Iron artefacts recovered from Block 40 were probably discarded on the bridleway/pathway and incorporated into the surrounding topsoil. 4.4 Significance 4.4.1 The monitored blocks are situated in the area with high potential for archaeological remains. No remains have been recognised during this watching brief but the finds recorded are consistent with multi-period activity in the vicinity.

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APPENDIX A DESCRIPTIONS AND CONTEXT INVENTORY Block 57/58 General description Orientation NE-SW Devoid of archaeology. Consists of topsoil and subsoil overlying Length (m) c. 200m natural geology of sand and chalk. Width (m) c. 50m Avg. depth (m) 0.15 Context Type Width Depth Description Finds Date No. (m) (m) 100 Layer - 0.10 Topsoil (dark greyish brown - - silty sand) 101 Layer - 0.05 Subsoil flint Neolithic

WWII bullets, Modern nails Block 59 General description Orientation NE-SW Devoid of archaeology. Consists of topsoil and subsoil overlying Length (m) c. 100m natural geology of sand chalk. Width (m) c. 50m Avg. depth (m) 0.15 Context Type Width Depth Description Finds Date No. (m) (m) 100 Layer - 0.10 Topsoil (dark greyish brown - - silty sand) 101 Layer - 0.05 Subsoil (mid brownish grey flint Neolithic silty sand) Cu-alloy artefact Med. WWII bullets, Fe Modern nails Block 40 General description Orientation - Devoid of archaeology. Consists of topsoil overlying natural Length (m) c. 100m geology of sand and chalk. Width (m) c. 100m Avg. depth (m) 0.10 Context Type Width Depth Description Finds Date No. (m) (m) 102 Layer - 0.05 Topsoil (dark greyish coins Roman brown silty sand) Cu-alloy Med. Buckle and sheet metal fragments Cu-alloy PMed. buttons, trade token Fe nails and Med./Mod. hook fitting WWII bullets Mod.

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APPENDIX B FINDS REPORTS B.1 Metalwork

By Denis Sami

Introduction B.1.1 A total of 50 metal artefacts (including a selection of the .303 WWII bullets) were recovered through metal detecting of subsoil (101) in Blocks 57-59 and subsoil (102) in Block 40 (Table 1). The majority of finds date to the medieval and post-medieval periods, with three Roman coins dating to the late 3rd century. B.1.2 The metalwork is overall fragmented and poorly preserved. Metal No of artefacts CuA 18 Fe 32 Total 50 Table 1: Total of artefacts by metal

Methodology B.1.3 The metalwork was assessed according to the OA East metalwork finds standard following the suggestions of the Historical Metallurgy Society (HMS, Datasheets 104 and 108), the Archaeometallurgy. Guidelines for best practice (HE, 2015) and the 2013, Guidelines for the Storage and Display of Archaeological Metalwork by the English Heritage. B.1.4 The metalwork assemblage was quantified using an Access database. All metal finds were counted, weighted when relevant and classified on a context by context basis. The catalogue is organised by context number in an excel spreadsheet.

Assemblage Character B.1.5 The larger group of finds is represented by hand forged nail followed by dress accessories, coins and horse equipment (Table 2). Chronology B.1.6 Three coins date to the late 3rd century AD, the earlier is a radiate of Tetricus (271-74) while the latter two are a Barbarous Radiate (275-85). A post-medieval trade token remains unidentified. B.1.7 Dressing accessories are mostly medieval in date with two post-medieval to modern plain undecorated buttons. B.1.8 The remaining metalwork is undiagnostic, and it can span from medieval to post- medieval date.

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The Kings Forest, Wordwell and West Stow, Suffolk V.1 Discussion B.1.9 Iron nails were versatile and multifunctional objects generally used in timber construction buildings. The large number of nails on site suggests the presence of a wood structure or fence nearby. Dressing accessories indicate some sort of human activity in the area with possible limited economic exchange.

Statement of potential B.1.10 Given its poorly preservation and chronological ambiguity, the metalwork recovered cannot add any valuable contribution to the regional research objectives.

Recommendations for further work B.1.11 No further work is needed for this assemblage. B.1.12 The iron artefacts can be disposed of after this report.

Catalogue

ext

Block No. Block SF Cont Material Artefact Quantity Description Length(mm) (mm) Width (mm) Thickness (mm) Diam. (gr) Weight date Spot 57- 100 101 CuA unidenti 2 A very thin and shapeless 0 0 0. 0 0.97 MED 59 fied sheet of metal from an 1 unidentified artefact 57- 109 101 Fe nail 1 Hand forged nail 0 0 0 0 0 MED/MO 59 D 57- 110 101 Fe nail 1 Hand forged nail 0 0 0 0 0 MED/MO 59 D 57- 113 101 Fe tool 1 a rectangular and tapering 66 14 5. 0 0 MED/MO 59 strip of metal with possible 5 D remain of a oval in cross- section tang 57- 131 101 Fe nail 6 Hand forged nail 0 0 0 0 0 MED/MO 59 D 40 197 102 Fe nail 2 Hand forged nail 0 0 0 0 0 MED/MO D 40 198 102 Fe nail 2 Hand forged nail 0 0 0 0 0 MED/MO D 40 199 102 Fe nail 1 Hand forged nail 0 0 0 0 0 MED/MO D 40 200 102 Fe chain 1 An oval chain loop 0 0 0 0 0 MED/MO loop D 40 201 102 Fe nail 1 Hand forged nail 0 0 0 0 0 MED/MO D 40 202 102 Fe Buckle 1 A rectangular frame with 35.4 48 4. 0 0 MOD circular pin, possibly from a 9 horse harness 40 203 102 Fe nail 1 Hand forged nail 0 0 0 0 0 MED/MO D 40 204 102 Fe nail 2 Hand forged nail 0 0 0 0 0 MED/MO D 40 205 102 Fe nail 2 Hand forged nail 0 0 0 0 0 MED/MO D

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Block No. Block SF Cont Material Artefact Quantity Description Length(mm) (mm) Width (mm) Thickness (mm) Diam. (gr) Weight date Spot 40 208 102 CuA coin 1 A Barbarous Radiate 0 0 1. 13.8 1 RM 1 40 209 102 Fe nail 1 Hand forged nail 0 0 0 0 0 MED/MO D 40 210 102 CuA button 1 A button with circular and flat 0 0 7. 15.9 1.86 PMED undecorated plate and 5 complete circular loop attached 40 211 102 Fe nail 3 Hand forged nail 0 0 0 0 0 MED/MO D 40 212 102 CuA coin 1 A radiate of Tetricus I 0 0 0. 12.4 1.85 RM 9 40 213 102 CuA artefact 1 A possibly ferrule consisting 22.1 0 2. 15 10.5 MOD of a conical with flat top cast 8 7 object. Some organic material presumably wood is still present inside the artefact 40 214 102 Fe hook 1 A hook fitting 0 0 0 0 0 MED/MO D 40 215 102 Fe nail 3 Hand forged nail 0 0 0 0 0 MED/MO D 40 216 102 Fe nail 2 Hand forged nail 0 0 0 0 0 MED/MO D 40 217 102 CuA button 1 A complete button with large 0 0 8. 26.3 5.2 PMED undecorated plate and 2 circular loop attached 40 218 102 CuA unidenti 1 A possible part of a gilded 18 10 0. 0 0.74 MED fied belt mount consisting of a cut .4 3 rectangular strip of gilded metal with one little hole. A five-ray star is hammered on one side 40 219 102 CuA trade 1 A post medieval trade 0 0 0. 20.3 0.8 PMED token nameless token 2 40 220 102 CuA coin 1 A very worn Barbarous 0 0 0. 15.9 1.08 RM Radiate 7 40 221 102 CuA unidenti 1 A rectangular sheet of metal 22.5 15 0. 0 1.65 MED fied cut from a large unidentified 4 silver-plated artefact. One of the short sides of the cut is shaped in three triangular prongs with a central little hole. On one side there are unidentified hammered decorations 40 222 102 CuA buckle 1 A cast D shaped three lobes 20.3 35 3. 0 5.88 MED frame with bar missing 2 40 223 102 Cua buckle 1 An incomplete sheet-plate 30.5 18 0. 0 1.47 MED with only one rivet hole at 3 the end of the plate. The outside edge of the plate is the common - two recessed and central slot for pin - feature

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Block No. Block SF Cont Material Artefact Quantity Description Length(mm) (mm) Width (mm) Thickness (mm) Diam. (gr) Weight date Spot 40 224 102 CuA buckle 1 A small trapezoidal frame 13.9 15 3. 0 1.9 MED with missing pin .6 2 40 226 102 CuA artefact 2 Two shapeless fragments of 0 0 0. 0 1.19 MED metal sheet 2 40 227 102 CuA buckle 1 A fragment of a D shaped 11 23 1. 0 1.66 MED buckle frame 8 40 228 102 CuA unidenti 1 A possible vessel repair 27.3 23 7. 0 8.79 MED fied consisting of two metal 9 sheets fastened by a copper- alloy looped staple Table 2: Catalogue of metalwork finds, Fe (iron); CuA (copper-alloy) B.2 Flint

By Lawrence Billington

Introduction B.2.1 A small assemblage of 24 worked flints was recovered during the monitoring work from Areas 57/58 and 59. The assemblage has been recorded and catalogued and is quantified by type in Table 3. Area 59 57/58 Totals Context 101 101

Primary flake 1 1 Secondary flake 4 8 12 Tertiary flake 3 3 6

Secondary blade 1 1

End scraper 1 1

Minimally worked core 1 1

Irreg. shatter 2 2 Totals 10 14 24 Table 3. Quantification of the flint assemblage.

Condition and raw material B.2.2 The condition of the flintwork is varied; some pieces are relatively fresh whilst others display moderate or edge damage. As a whole the condition of the assemblage is fairly typical of material collected from surface deposits which have seen a degree of post- depositional disturbance. Just under half of the assemblage (11 pieces) display some recortication (‘patination’), varying from a very light blue sheen through to a heavy opaque white. B.2.3 The raw materials are made up exclusively of good quality fine grained flint, generally a very dark grey or mottled grey colour. Surviving cortical surfaces are relatively hard and abraded and include some thermally fractured surfaces. There is no clear evidence for material derived directly from the parent chalk and the material appears to reflect

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The Kings Forest, Wordwell and West Stow, Suffolk V.1 the use of nodules and cobbles from the flint-rich superficial coversands and glacial sands and gravels of the Breckland (Healy 1991; 1998; Bishop 2012) and was probably available on, or very close to the site.

Characterisation B.2.4 The assemblage is dominated by unretouched removals, alongside a single retouched tool and a large minimally worked core. The unretouched removals are overwhelmingly dominated by simple hard-hammer struck secondary and tertiary flakes which are characteristic of later Neolithic and Early Bronze Age technologies. There is an almost complete absence of blade-based material, with a single large and somewhat irregular secondary blade (105mm long) from Area 57/58. The technological traits and morphology of the flakes are varied, and they include some regular and well-struck flakes, sometimes with evidence for platform preparation in the form of light dorsal trimming, alongside broad, squat irregular flakes. One regular secondary flake, from Area 57/58 has a dihedral striking platform and complex dorsal scar pattern suggesting it may have derived from a later Neolithic Levallois-like core. The minimally worked core (from Area 59) takes the form a large thermally fractured nodule, from which a few flakes have been removed. B.2.5 The sole retouched piece in the assemblage is a finely made short end scraper. Manufactured on a thick hard hammer struck tertiary flake it has a finely retouched and regular, symmetrical, convex distal end, with retouch extending partly up both lateral edges. This piece can only be attributed a broadly Neolithic to Early Bronze Age date.

Discussion B.2.6 Although small in size and lacking closely datable pieces, the flint assemblage is clearly dominated by material of Later Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date and there is a lack of demonstrably earlier (Mesolithic/early Neolithic) material. The character of the flintwork is in keeping with the known record of prehistoric activity in the area, with Neolithic and Early Bronze Age flint scatters and/or finds known from several locations in the immediate vicinity of the site (see Archaeological Background; Section 1.3). The extensive prehistoric activity represented by these finds is typical of many parts of the Breckland, which has long been famed for its extensive surface scatters of Neolithic and Early Bronze Age flintwork (see Healy 1984, 127), with more recent work confirming the importance of the area during this general period, especially in terms of its abundant and readily accessible flint resources (Bishop 2012; Healy et al 2018).

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APPENDIX C BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bishop, B.J. 2012. The Grimes Graves Environs Survey: Exploring the Social Landscapes of a Flint Source. Unpublished PhD thesis: University of York

Healy, F. 1984. Farming and Field Monuments: the Neolithic in Norfolk. In: C. Barringer (ed.) Aspects of East Anglian Archaeology: 20 years after Rainbird Clarke. Norwich: Geo Books, 77–140

Healy, F. 1991. The Hunting of the Floorstone. In: A.J. Schofield (Ed.) Interpreting Artefact Scatters: contributions to ploughzone archaeology, 29–37. Oxbow Monograph 4

Healy, F. 1998. The Surface of the Breckland. In: N. Ashton, F. Healy and P. Pettitt (Eds.) Stone Age Archaeology: essays in honour of John Wymer, 225–235. Lithics Studies Society Occasional Paper 6/Oxbow Monograph 102

Healy, F., Marshall, P., Bayliss, A., Cook, G., Ramsey, C.B., van der Plicht, J. and Dunbar, E., 2018. When and Why? The Chronology and Context of Flint Mining at Grime’s Graves, Norfolk, England. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 84, 277-301

Muldowney, L. 2020. The King’s Forest, West Stow and Wordwell. Written Scheme of Investigation. Oxford Archaeology East, dated 17th January 2020

Robertson, D. 2019. Shifting Sands: Brief for archaeological monitoring and metal detecting during ground disturbance work in The King’s Forest, West Stow and Wordwell, Suffolk. Forest England, dated 25th October 2019

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APPENDIX D OASIS REPORT FORM Project Details OASIS Number Oxfordar3-380585 Project Name Kings Forest, Wordwell and West Stow

Start of Fieldwork 22/01/2020 End of Fieldwork 29/01/2020 Previous Work no Future Work no

Project Reference Codes Site Code WSW218 Planning App. No. n/a HER Number Related Numbers

Prompt NPPF Development Type Forest clearance for conservation Place in Planning Process Not known/Not recorded

Techniques used (tick all that apply) ☐ Aerial Photography – ☐ Grab-sampling ☐ Remote Operated Vehicle Survey interpretation ☐ Aerial Photography - new ☐ Gravity-core ☐ Sample Trenches ☐ Annotated Sketch ☐ Laser Scanning ☐ Survey/Recording of Fabric/Structure ☐ Augering ☐ Measured Survey ☐ Targeted Trenches ☐ Dendrochonological Survey ☒ Metal Detectors ☐ Test Pits ☒ Documentary Search ☐ Phosphate Survey ☐ Topographic Survey ☐ Environmental Sampling ☐ Photogrammetric Survey ☐ Vibro-core ☐ Fieldwalking ☐ Photographic Survey ☐ Visual Inspection (Initial Site Visit) ☐ Geophysical Survey ☐ Rectified Photography ☒ Watching Brief

Monument Period Object Period n/a None Coin Roman (43 to 410) Choose an item. Handaxe Neolithic ( - 4000 to - 2200) Choose an item. Buckle Medieval (1066 to 1540) Insert more lines as appropriate.

Project Location County Suffolk Address (including Postcode) District West Suffolk The Kings Forest, Parish Wordwell and West Stow Brandon Road, HER office Suffolk CC West Stow, Size of Study Area c. 1.74ha Suffolk National Grid Ref TL 8171 5080 IP28 6HA

Project Originators Organisation OA East Project Brief Originator David Robertson Project Design Originator Liz Muldowney

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The Kings Forest, Wordwell and West Stow, Suffolk V.1

Project Manager Liz Muldowney Project Supervisor Daria Adamson

Project Archives Location ID Physical Archive (Finds) SCCS WSW218 Digital Archive SCCS WSW218 Paper Archive SCCS WSW218

Physical Contents Present? Digital files Paperwork associated with associated with Finds Finds Animal Bones ☐ ☐ ☐ Ceramics ☐ ☐ ☐ Environmental ☐ ☐ ☐ Glass ☐ ☐ ☐ Human Remains ☐ ☐ ☐ Industrial ☐ ☐ ☐ Leather ☐ ☐ ☐ Metal ☒ ☒ ☒ Stratigraphic ☐ ☐ Survey ☒ ☒ Textiles ☐ ☐ ☐ Wood ☐ ☐ ☐ Worked Bone ☐ ☐ ☐ Worked Stone/Lithic ☒ ☒ ☒ None ☐ ☐ ☐ Other ☐ ☐ ☐

Digital Media Paper Media Database ☐ Aerial Photos ☐ GIS ☒ Context Sheets ☒ Geophysics ☐ Correspondence ☐ Images (Digital photos) ☒ Diary ☐ Illustrations (Figures/Plates) ☒ Drawing ☐ Moving Image ☐ Manuscript ☐ Spreadsheets ☐ Map ☐ Survey ☐ Matrices ☐ Text ☒ Microfiche ☐ Virtual Reality ☐ Miscellaneous ☐ Research/Notes ☐ Photos (negatives/prints/slides) ☐ Plans ☐ Report ☒ Sections ☐ Survey ☒

©Oxford Archaeology Ltd 17 9 April 2020

east east east

Lincoln

Norwich

Site Site Cambridge Site Ipswich

Oxford

London

0 50 km 0 5 km Scale 1:3,000,000 Scale 1:250,000 k 45m c a r 48m T

Track

50m 50m N 45m

50m 40m

Track 40m 39m 580000 581000

40m 51m Track 47m WEST STOW CP 49m Weststow Long Track Plantation 46m

273000 47m Track Track 40m D Track A O R Tumulus W O T 51m S T S Track E W Block 59 Track The King's

Track Track Track Block 57/58 30m 45m Forest Track Wordwell Covert 33m Track 45m Track Icklingham Belt Track

Track Track

Track

44m Track Track

Track

y Track d Track B P C

D A O R W Weststow FieldTrack O T S T 35m S Track E Track W Track Track

Track

k c a r Track T Nut Covert Boxham's Belt Track Track

272000 Pit (dis) Track Pit (dis) Track Track Track Track Track Block 40 Track Track

25m Path

Path

Path Track Drain Track 18m Path 25m Wideham Forest Lodge Path Cottages Track Drain Track West Stow Country Park PC Track Path Path Car Park 21m Car Park Drain

20m Path Drain

25m 25m

20m 20m Drain Anglo-Saxon Village Anglo-Saxon Track Dale Track Pond

Path (reconstructed) Village Track

20m Ford 20m Track (reconstructed) 15m Drain Weststow Heath Drain Drain

Alder Carr Drain Drain 25m 22m

Drain Woodside Track 22m Track 271000 0 1:15,000 500 m Track West Stow 22m Track Gardeners Country Park Meadow Farm Cottage Drain Fullers Mill 22m Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2020.R Alli rights reserved. Centremaps CM-00857014 Crooked INGHAM ROAD FBs v Sewage Chimney Row Old e Drain Drain r L ar k Works School House

FigureDrain 1: Site location showing forestry clearence blocks (black) with monitored blocks (red) West Stow Track Hall Noola House 20m HAMR D NG O I CKLI AD Lerrum House A

R Sewage M Ppg Sta ESS FB A H Track G 15m Drain N Slipway I L

K n

n C

i i I

r FB Drain

Lackford Hall D

15m 15m FB Fish Farm Drain Lapwing Lodge Lark Lodge Drain West Stow PW Drain Drain Old Rectory

Track east east east

N 580000 581000 582000 583000

273000 WSW 013 SAM 31117 Block 59

Block 57/58 WSW 023 WSW 021

WRW 059

WRW 023

WSW 020

IKL 105 W

R W 058

WSW 066 WRW 003 WSW 074 WSW 073 WSW 072 WRW 010 WSW 019 WSW 105 WRW 039 WSW 080 272000

WSW 034

Block 40 WSW 016 WSW 057

WSW 010

WSW 056

WSW 003 WSW 055 WSW 015 WSW 025 WSW 069 WSW 177

WSW 054 WSW 070 WSW 002

271000

WSW 115

WSW 006 0 1:10,000 500 m

N 580600 580700 100 131 Key 132 Forestry clearance block 133 102 Medieval Cu alloy item 134 World War 2 bullet 136 Modern knife fragment 135 Nail 137 138 139 140

141

142 143 101 144 145 146 WSW 013 SAM31117 Block 59 147

103 149 150 152 148 151 153 154

272900 155 104 156 107 105 157 110 106 108 109 113 111 116 115 117 162 161 112 118 114 164 163 160 158 165 166 159 167 119 168 169 120 121 122 123 124 170 171 125

172 173

126 Block 57/58 174

128 129

175 177 176

272800 178

179 180 130

181

183 182 184 185

186 WSW 021 WSW 023 187

188

190 189 194 191

193 192

272700 196 195

0 1:800 50 m

N Key

Forestry clearance block 581400 581450 Romano-British coin Medieval belt mount Medieval artefact Post-mediaval trade token Post-medieval button post medieval/modern artefact World War 2 bullet Modern horse fitment Shotgun cartridge Nail

197 271900 207 228

208

Block 40 227 226 209

210

198

225 271850 224 221 199 219 220

214 200 215 222 223 206 211 216 201 218 212 202 217 203 205 204 213

271800

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Figure 4: Metalwork distribution in Block 40

Plate 1: Block 59, looking south-west

Plate 2: Block 57/58, looking south-west

Plate 3: Block 40, looking east

Plate 4: Block 40, looking south-west

Plate 5: WWII ammunition scatter from Blocks 57/58 and 59

Plate 6: Metal finds from block 40