Pre-Construct Archaeology was commissioned by Jacobs UK Ltd on behalf of Highways England to undertake a programme of targeted archaeological investigation, metal detecting survey and field walking following removal of a Forestry Commission plantation at the proposed development at Hockwold Heath, Norfolk. The 50.4 ha scheme comprises a habitat compensation area to be provided for stone curlews to mitigate habitat lost from the construction and operation of the A11 Fiveways to Thetford scheme.
Before the start of these archaeological works the site was subject to a single deep ploughing which inverted the ground to a depth ranging between 0.4m and 0.6m. As a result of this deep ploughing natural ground and the upper levels of archaeological features were dragged to the surface and former overburden soils were inverted and buried below redeposited geological deposits.
A UAV survey was subsequently carried out on the site, which identified eight areas of potential archaeological interest which have been exposed by the soil inversion works. These comprised three possible round barrows and five other areas of interest, including further possible ring-ditches, pitting and a ditched trackway and enclosure. Although the plotting of these inverted remains appeared consistent with the types of archaeological remains known from the immediate area no trace of these potential sites were found to have survived at surface level.
It is clear that the inversion process resulted in significant damage to archaeological assets within the are of investigation. Despite the inversion process five new sites have been identified within the study area, dating from Neolithic to Bronze Age. A chance find of a Palaeolithic hand axe suggests the presence of artefacts much earlier in date.
See also Wangford Warren, which is linked with this project.
