Nightingale Lane, Downham Market, Norfolk Archaeological Fieldwalking Survey

On the 8th and 9th June 2011, Oxford Archaeology East carried out an archaeological fieldwalking survey across a c.22ha area in Downham Market, Norfolk (TF 616 023). The area surveyed encompassed fields containing sugar beet crop adjacent to Nightingale Lane and immediately north of the A1122. The fieldwalking survey has shown the presence of prehistoric (Neolithic to Iron Age) activity across much of the site. The finds collected ranged in date from the early Neolithic through to post-medieval and modern. Of particular significance was a worked flint scatter in the central and south-eastern portion of the site. A number of tools were found including a leaf shaped arrowhead and the assemblage is thought to be Neolithic to Early Bronze Age in date, in addition part of the assemblage may date to the mid-late Bronze Age and possibly later. A small number of medieval pottery sherds were found, probably the result of manuring fields. The majority of the finds recovered across the entire area although slightly more dense towards the north were post-medieval in date, and included a high density of clay pipe and ceramic building material (CBM). A cluster of oyster shell was also found on the north-eastern side of the study area. These finds are all likely to derive from manuring of fields.