Land West of Octagon Farm Bungay Road Bixley Norfolk

Archaeological Excavation

for Lanpro Services

on behalf of Bennett Homes

CA Project: 661130 CA Report: 18388

August 2018

Land West of Octagon Farm Bungay Road Bixley Norfolk

Archaeological Excavation

CA Project: 661130 CA Report: 18388

Document Control Grid Revision Date Author Checked by Status Reasons for Approved revision by A 10/07/18 AW APS Draft Internal review APS B 04/08/18 AW APS Draft Client review APS

This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission.

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 4

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ...... 6

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ...... 7

4. METHODOLOGY ...... 8

5. RESULTS (FIGS 2–5) ...... 7

6. DISCUSSION ...... 8

7. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 9

8. STORAGE AND CURATION ...... 9

9. REFERENCES ...... 10

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 11 APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM ...... 12

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 Site, showing the excavation/mitigation area, the test trench location, topsoil bund location, and the areas already developed (1:750) Fig. 3 Photo of site looking south, from northern extent Fig. 4 Photo of topsoil bund looking west across site Fig. 5 Photo of test trench under excavation looking southeast

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Land West of Octagon Farm, Bungay Rd, Bixley: Archaeological Excavation

Summary Project Name: Land West of Octagon Farm, Bungay Road, Bixley Location: Bungay Road, Bixley Norfolk NGR: 625800 303700 Type: Excavation Date: 04 June to 05 June 2018 Planning Reference: 2012/0405/O Location of Archive: Norfolk Museums Service Accession Number: BEN001/1001H/01 Site Code: OCTF18

In June 2018 Cotswold Archaeology was commissioned by Lanpro Services Ltd acting on behalf of Bennett Homes, to carry out an archaeological excavation on Land West of Octagon Farm, Bungay Road, Bixley, in advance of the residential development of the site. The excavation was subsequently aborted when the site was shown to have been extensively disturbed/ truncated by construction works that had occurred prior to the implementation of the required excavation.

A preceding geophysical survey and trial trench evaluation had identified undated and Roman remains; however, the excavation was unable to expand upon the results of this work due to the extent of disturbance arising from the development works that had taken place.

The excavation area had been stripped entirely of topsoil using a toothed excavator working without archaeological supervision. The stripped area had then been subject to extensive vehicle movements over the winter of 2107 – 18 as the adjacent parts of the development were built-out, resulting in deep areas of rutting and compaction. Subsoil and part of the underlying natural geology had then subsequently been removed/ truncated by the levelling of the site and the removal of the above-noted areas of rutting using a toothed bucket.

In order to test the severity and depth of the disturbance, and as a means of prospection for any surviving archaeological remains an area was machine stripped in the vicinity of evaluation trench 18, which had been noted to contain a pit and ditch terminus. The re- machined area was 20m in length by 1.8m wide and confirmed that all of the subsoil in this area had been removed and the upper surface of the natural substrata had been truncated.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Land West of Octagon Farm, Bungay Rd, Bixley: Archaeological Excavation

The base of excavation in areas where drainage and other infrastructure had already been installed was confirmed by the contractors on site to be at a maximum depth of 4mAOD, significantly below the archaeological horizon. Areas that had been benched/ levelled ahead of house building were inspected and seen to be truncated into the natural substrate, while the footprint of the dwellings that had already been constructed is expected to have been disturbed to a similar extent.

No surviving archaeological features were noted in those areas that were inspected and/ or re-stripped and no artefactual or biological material was recovered during the works.

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Land West of Octagon Farm, Bungay Rd, Bixley: Archaeological Excavation

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In June 2018 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) was commissioned by Lanpro Services Ltd (the consultant) acting on behalf of Bennett Homes, to carry out an archaeological excavation on Land West of Octagon Farm, Bungay Road, Bixley (centred at NGR: 625800 303700; Fig. 1), in advance of the residential development of the site.

1.2 Planning permission (Planning ref: 2012/0405/O) for residential development was granted by South Norfolk Council (SNC) in 2013. The application had been supported by the results of a geophysical survey (Stratascan 2012) which identified possible archaeological remains that correlated with the location of cropmarks indicative of possible Roman or medieval remains record on the Norfolk Historic Environment Record. Consequently, the Norfolk Historic Environment Service (NHES), in their capacity as archaeological advisors to SNC, requested that a condition for further archaeological work be attached to any grant of planning permission, to comprise a trial trench evaluation to determine the extent and type of any archaeological remains that were present and the scope of any mitigation works that may be required. Condition 8 subsequently attached to the grant of consent states:

A) No development shall take place until a Written Scheme of Investigation for a programme of archaeological works has been submitted to and approved by the local planning authority in writing. The scheme shall include: 1. An assessment of the significance of heritage assets present 2. The programme and methodology of site investigation and recording 3. The programme for post investigation assessment of recovered material 4. Provision to be made for analysis of the site investigation and recording 5. Provision to be made for publication and dissemination of the analysis and records of the site investigation 6. Provision to be made for archive deposition of the analysis and records of the site investigation 7. Nomination of a competent person or persons/organization to undertake the works set out within the Written Scheme of Investigation B) No demolition/development shall take place other than in accordance with the Written Scheme of Investigation approved under part (A).

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Land West of Octagon Farm, Bungay Rd, Bixley: Archaeological Excavation

C) The development shall not be occupied until the site investigation and post investigation assessment has been completed in accordance with the programme set out in the Written Scheme of Investigation approved under part (A) and the provision to be made for analysis, publication and dissemination of results and archive deposition has been secured.

Reason for the condition To ensure the potential archaeological interest of the site is investigated in accordance with Policy 2 of the Joint Core Strategy and Policy ENV9 of the South Norfolk Local Plan 2003.

1.3 The trial trench evaluation was undertaken in 2014 (NPS 2104) and identified the presence of archaeological remains in the northern part of the site. The site was acquired by the current developer, Bennett Homes, in 2015. In July 2015 an application was made to discharge condition 8. However, only the WSI for the trial trench evaluation was submitted with the application even though the trenching had been completed in the previous year. NHES approved the WSI and advised SNC that part A of condition 8 could be discharged, but that parts B and C should remain in force until a report on all phases of archaeological works had been approved. At this stage no reference was made by NHES to the completed trial trench evaluation.

1.4 In October 2015 a reserved matters application (2015/2326) was submitted to SNC. Advice issued by NHES at this stage referenced the 2014 trial trench evaluation and recommended that further archaeological work should be undertaken under condition 8 of the outline permission. The reserved matters application was subsequently approved in April 2016, conditional on complying with the conditions attached to the outline consent.

1.5 Unfortunately, development commenced on site in 2017 without the archaeological mitigation works having been implemented, with access roads, drainage and a number of house foundations having been completed within the area of archaeological interest by June 2018 (Fig. 2). Consultation subsequently undertaken by the consultant with the NHES (consultation ref. CNF43324) confirmed that the remaining area of archaeological interest should be subject to full archaeological excavation. However, the excavation was subsequently aborted when the site was shown to have been far more extensively disturbed/ truncated by construction works than had been anticipated.

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Land West of Octagon Farm, Bungay Rd, Bixley: Archaeological Excavation

1.6 The excavation was intended to be undertaken in accordance with a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by the consultant (Lanpro 2018) and approved the NHES on behalf of SNC. The WSI conformed with guidance contained in the Standard and guidance for archaeological excavation (CIfA 2014); Standards for Development Led Archaeological Projects in Norfolk (NHES 2018), the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project Manager’s Guide and accompanying PPN3: Archaeological Excavation (Historic England 2015).

The site

1.7 The development site as a whole is approximately 2.8ha in extent, located on the western side of Bungay Road, Bixley, Norfolk. The site originally comprised arable farmland bounded to the north and west by farmland, housing to the south and the B1332 to the east (see Fig. 1). The site is relatively level with a gentle north facing slope running down from c.50mAOD in the south to c.47mAOD in the north.

1.8 The underlying geology is mapped as Crag Group sands and gravels with overlying superficial deposits of Undifferentiated River Terrace Deposits of the Quaternary Period, Tidal River or Creek Deposits, of the Holocene Epoch, and Lowestoft Formation Diamicton of the Anglian Stage (BGS 2014).

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

2.1 The development area has previously been the subject of a geophysical survey (Stratascan 2011) and evaluation by trial trenching (NPS 2014). The following section summarises the results of that work.

2.2 The Norfolk Historic Environment Record (NHER) contains evidence for prehistoric activity within the environs of the site, dating from the Mesolithic to the Iron Age. This includes findspots of flint tools and cropmarks of possible Neolithic/Bronze Age enclosures. The most significant records relate to a burnt mound (NHER9839), and a Neolithic mortuary enclosure (NHER53227) c.500m west of the development site, while a possible Iron Age funerary enclosure (NHER53303) lays to the southeast.

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Land West of Octagon Farm, Bungay Rd, Bixley: Archaeological Excavation

2.3 The NHER records a number of multi-period find spots that provide evidence for a Roman presence locally, along with two specific find spots of Roman coins. However, the main evidence for this period is provided by aerial photographs that show crop marks, soil marks and earthwork evidence for a Roman road running northeast to southwest, and a second possible road running from northwest to southeast; both may pass through the north end of the proposed development site NHER sites 9904, 18194, 53212 and 53213. A further record, NHER28997, details a quantity of Roman pottery from a ditch that may well be associated with the northeast to southwest road.

2.4 There is little evidence for the Saxon activity from the surrounding area except as stray findspots of pottery, while evidence for the medieval and post-medieval periods is better represented. This include records of two deserted medieval villages: that of Arminghall (NHER9877), to the northwest of the current site, and Bixley (NHER52477), to the northeast of the site. The medieval precursor to the B1132 runs c.100m east and parallel to the modern road (NPS 2014).

2.5 The results of the trial-trench evaluation undertaken in 2014 indicate that archaeological features are present in a discreet area within the northern part of the development area, covering approximately 0.5ha.

2.6 There is some uncertainty regarding the date of some of the features identified by the trenching due a paucity of datable artefacts recovered from the excavated sections. However, Roman pottery was recovered from one feature and it is considered that the remaining features most likely represent field systems and/or relate to a Roman road which is believed to pass across the site. The lack of finds from the trial trenching suggests that the site may have been peripheral to settlement activity; however, a curving gully encountered in trench 16 may represent an Iron Age or Roman roundhouse (Lanpro 2018).

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

3.1 The primary aim of the archaeological mitigation was to record and advance understanding of the significance of any archaeological remains within the site prior to their damage or loss. Further specific research objectives were set out in the

7 © Cotswold Archaeology Land West of Octagon Farm, Bungay Rd, Bixley: Archaeological Excavation

approved WSI for the works but are no longer considered relevant in light of the abortive nature of the works.

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1 The location and extent of the proposed excavation area was determined by the NHES, informed by the results of the archaeological evaluation (NPS 2014). The area of archaeological interest covered approximately 0.5ha and was set out on OS National Grid (NGR) co-ordinates using Leica GPS and surveyed in accordance with CA Technical Manual 4: Survey Manual.

5. RESULTS (FIGS 2–5)

5.1 While some previous disturbance of the excavation area was anticipated as a result of the previously advised works that had taken place, upon arrival at site it was immediately apparent that the excavation area had been stripped entirely of topsoil using a toothed excavator working without archaeological supervision and that the stripped area had then been subject to extensive vehicle movements over the winter of 2107 – 18 as the adjacent development was built-out, resulting in deep areas of rutting and compaction. Subsoil and the underlying natural geology had then subsequently been removed/ truncated by the levelling of the site and the removal of the above-noted areas of rutting using a toothed bucket (Fig 2 & 3). Other areas had been levelled and marked-out in anticipation of the commencement of foundation excavations.

5.2 In order to test the extent and depth of the disturbance and as a means of prospection for any surviving archaeological remains an area was machine stripped in the vicinity of trench 18, which was noted in the evaluation to contain a pit and ditch terminus. This was 20m in length by 1.8m wide and confirmed that all of the subsoil in this area had been removed and the upper surface of the natural substrata truncated (Fig 2 & 5).

5.3 The base of excavation in areas where drainage and other infrastructure had already been installed was confirmed by the contractors on site to be at a maximum depth of 4mAOD, significantly below the archaeological horizon. Areas that had been benched/ levelled ahead of house building were inspected and seen to be

8 © Cotswold Archaeology Land West of Octagon Farm, Bungay Rd, Bixley: Archaeological Excavation

truncated into the natural substrate, while footprint of the dwellings that had already been constructed is expected to have been disturbed to a similar extent.

5.4 No artefactual or biological material was recovered during the works.

6. DISCUSSION

6.1 The excavation was unable to expand upon the results of the preceding geophysical survey and trial trenching due to the extent of disturbance arising from development works that had taken place across the excavation area prior to the implementation of the required mitigation excavation. Re-machining of an area adjacent to evaluation trench 18 demonstrated that both topsoil and subsoil had been removed, with truncation occurring into the surface of the natural substrate during construction operations including the installation of some access roads, house footings, and associated drainage, and the removal/ levelling of deep wheel ruts from areas of the site using a mechanical excavator equipped with a toothed bucket.

7. CA PROJECT TEAM

7.1 Fieldwork was undertaken by Andrew Whelan, assisted by Suzi Ferron. The report was written by Andrew Whelan. The illustrations were prepared by Rosanna Price. The archive has been compiled and prepared for deposition by Emily Evans. The fieldwork and post-excavation was managed for CA by Adrian Scruby.

8. STORAGE AND CURATION

8.1 The archive is currently held at CA offices in Milton Keynes. Upon completion of the project, and with the agreement of the legal landowners, the project archive will be deposited with Norfolk Museums Service, which has agreed in principle to accept the complete archive upon completion of the project. A summary of information from this project, set out within Appendix B, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

9 © Cotswold Archaeology Land West of Octagon Farm, Bungay Rd, Bixley: Archaeological Excavation

9. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2014 Geology of Britain Viewer http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html Accessed 11 July 2018

Lanpro Services Ltd 2018 Written Scheme of Investigation for Archaeological Mitigation: Bungay Road, Bixley.

NPS (NPS Archaeology) 2014 Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation at Bungay Road, Bixley Norfolk. Report Ref ENF134716

Stratascan 2011 Bixley Geophysical report (unpublished)

10 © Cotswold Archaeology Land West of Octagon Farm, Bungay Rd, Bixley: Archaeological Excavation

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Context Context Context Spot Number Type Description Date 1000 layer Natural: Mottled mix of light grey yellow and mid yellow orange silty sands

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Land West of Octagon Farm, Bungay Road, Bixley, Norfolk Short description An archaeological mitigation excavation was attempted in June 2018 on Land West of Octagon Farm, Bungay Road, Bixley, Norfolk.

The excavation was unable to expand upon the results of a preceding geophysical survey and trial trenching that had identified undated and Roman remains due to the extent of disturbance arising from development works that had taken place across the excavation area prior to the implementation of the required mitigation excavation.

The excavation area had been stripped entirely of topsoil using a toothed excavator working without archaeological supervision and that the stripped area had then been subject to extensive vehicle movements over the winter of 2107 – 18 as the adjacent development was built-out, resulting in deep areas of rutting and compaction. Subsoil and the underlying natural geology had then subsequently been removed/ truncated by the levelling of the site and the removal of the above-noted areas of rutting using a toothed bucket.

In order to test the extent and depth of the disturbance and as a means of prospection for any surviving archaeological remains an area was machine stripped in the vicinity of trench 18, which was noted in the evaluation to contain a pit and ditch terminus. This was 20m in length by 1.8m wide and confirmed that all of the subsoil in this area had been removed and the upper surface of the natural substrata truncated.

The base of excavation in areas where drainage and other infrastructure had already been installed was confirmed by the contractors on site to be at a maximum depth of 4mAOD, significantly below the archaeological horizon. Areas that had been benched/ levelled ahead of house building were inspected and seen to be truncated into the natural substrate, while footprint of the dwellings that had already been constructed is expected to have been disturbed to a similar extent.

No surviving archaeological features were noted in those areas that were inspected and/ or re-stripped and no artefactual or biological material was recovered during the works. Project dates 04 June to 05 June 2018 Project type Mitigation Excavation Previous work Geophysical survey (Stratascan 2011) Feildwork Evaluation (NPS Archaeology 2014) Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Bungay Road, Bixley, Norfolk Study area (M2/ha) Site co-ordinates 625800 303700 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Norfolk County Council Project Design (WSI) originator Lanpro Services Ltd Project Manager Adrian Scruby Project Supervisor Andrew Whelan MONUMENT TYPE None SIGNIFICANT FINDS None

PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content (e.g. pottery, (museum/Accession no.) animal bone etc) Physical None Paper Norfolk Museum Services Day Records, Photo BEN001/1001H/02 Resisters, Survey day sheets, context register, Digital Norfolk Museum Services Database, digital photos, BEN001/1001H/02 BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2018 Land West of Octagon Farm, Bungay Road, Bixley, Norfolk. CA typescript report 18388

13 625000 627000

306000

304000

302000

N Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Site boundary Land west of Octagon Farm, Bungay NORFOLK Road, Bixley, Norfolk

FIGURE TITLE Site location plan 0 1km

DRAWN BY TB PROJECT NO. 661130 FIGURE NO. SUFFOLK © Crown copyright and database rights 2018 CHECKED BY DJB DATE 12.07.18 Ordnance Survey 0100031673 APPROVED BY AS SCALE@A4 1:25,000 1 625800 625900 625700 N

site boundary Bungay Road test trench topsoil bund Excavation Area Road - constructed

Octagon Foundation - constructed TP1 Farm

303800

303700

0 50m

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Exeter 01392 826185 Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected] Osier The Ramblers PROJECT TITLE Carr Land west of Octagon Farm, Bungay Road, Bixley, Norfolk

FIGURE TITLE Excavation plan

DRAWN BY TB PROJECT NO. 661130 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 12.07.18 APPROVED BY AS SCALE@A3 1:1000 2 P:\661130 Land west of Octagon Farm, Bungay Raod, Bixley EX\Illustration\Drafts\Working files\661130 Farm - Fig 2.dwg 3

Site, looking south from northern extent

Topsoil bund, looking west across site

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Land west of Octagon Farm, Bungay Road, Bixley, Norfolk

FIGURE TITLE Site Photographs

DRAWN BY TB PROJECT NO. 661130 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 13.07.18 APPROVED BY AS SCALE@A4 N/A 3 & 4 Test Trench 1, looking south-east (1m scales)

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Land west of Octagon Farm, Bungay Road, Bixley, Norfolk

FIGURE TITLE Test Trench 1: Photograph

DRAWN BY TB PROJECT NO. 661130 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 13.07.18 APPROVED BY AS SCALE@A4 N/A 5