Archaeological Excavation and Additional Evaluation at Land South of Wheel Road, Alpington, Norfolk

Between the 3rd and 5th of August 2015, Oxford Archaeology East undertook a programme of excavation at land south of Wheel Road, Alpington, Norfolk (TG 29319 01823). The excavation was focussed on an area of post-holes revealed in an earlier evaluation which suggested the presence of a post-built structure located along the roadside. The excavation revealed 13 further post-holes together with a small number of shallow pits and a gully. Some of the post-holes appear to form part of at least one rectangular structure, although no datable finds were recovered from the building or surrounding features. Three 20m long trenches were also excavated around the excavation area to investigate the potential for further occupation remains and associated activity. Two of these trenches revealed linear features aligned north to south, that are likely to have been medieval or post-medieval field boundaries perpendicular to the road. One yielded a small abraded sherd of pottery of Roman or post-Roman date. Three additional undated post-holes were also found at the northern end of Trench 6, close to the frontage.
The shape of the building uncovered in the excavation area and the near absence of finds or environmental remains from surrounding features indicates that the structure was an agricultural building/barn located away from any focus of contemporary settlement. Given the building's alignment along the road frontage it is tentatively suggested that the structure was of medieval or later date.