An Archaeological Watching Brief and Trenching Evaluation, Ormesby St. Margaret Flood Alleviation Scheme: Ormesby St. Margaret - Caister Pipeline

Abstract

Archaeological monitoring was undertaken along a 3.3km trenched section of the route of an Anglian Water pipeline inserted as part of the Ormesby St. Margaret flood alleviation scheme, the route of this running between Ormesby St. Margaret and West Caister in northeast Norfolk. The southern section (site 52660) consisting of a 320m long continuous trench some 5-6m wide, whilst the archaeology within the northern section (52659) was widely dispersed. In the northern part a including number of Post-medieval ditches and a series of prehistoric features including Early-Middle Iron Age and Roman pits and ditches were identified, some of which matched existing plotted cropmarks. In the middle section was found the remains of a 13th-15th century AD oven accompanying pottery and quern. The southern section approaching West Caister was denser in archaeology; this was crossed by ditches of suggested Late Bronze Age and Roman date associated with various field systems, a possible Late Prehistoric - Roman trackway associated with a square Roman structure, and two well-dated Late Bronze Age pits containing a very large assembage for Norfolk of Post-Deveril Rimbury pottery. Closer to the southern end on the outskirts of Caister the density of Medieval archaeology rises; this includes features associated with coastal drainage, a possible saltern, field lynchets and ditches, and a possible house structure.