Multiperiod remains at the land at Back Lane, Roughton, Norfolk

Between the 11th and 20th of November 2019 Oxford Archaeology East was commissioned by Broadland Housing Group to undertake an archaeological excavation on land off Back Lane, Roughton, Norfolk (centred TG 2173 3684) ahead of construction of a residential development. The area was initially evaluated by OA East earlier that year (Kwiatkowska 2019). A single area was recognised as needing further investigation – located on the western side of the proposed development area. This project uncovered remains ranging from the prehistoric period to the post-medieval era, with the majority of the remains dated to the Roman and medieval periods.
The prehistoric period was represented by a background scatter of flint finds, a single burnt pit (excavated during the trial trenching evaluation) which contained a significant amount of burnt flint and a possible post-hole investigated during the excavation phase.
Features assigned to the Roman period formed remains of a field system, which was concentrated towards the southern end of the development area. Features associated with this period were orientated from NNW to SSE and from ENE to WSW.
Medieval activity at the site was identified by five small ditches recognised during the trial trenching evaluation. These features formed a second field system. Ditches associated with this period were on north-east to south-west and north-west to south-east alignments.
Fragments of two large boundary ditches were recognised during both the trial trenching evaluation and excavation phases of the project. They formed parts of post-medieval and modern boundaries.