Multiperiod remains at Manor Farm, Drayton, Norfolk

Between 13th April and 4th May 2021, Oxford Archaeology East (OA East) conducted an archaeological excavation at Manor Farm, Drayton, Norwich (centred TG 1802 1433, Fig. 1) ahead of residential development. Initially a geophysical survey was undertaken in 2013 (Villis & Hale 2013). This was followed by an evaluation of six trial trenches within the southern half of the proposed development area in 2017 (Crawley 2017). An evaluation of 59 trenches covering the entire proposed development area followed in November 2020 (Kwiatkowska 2021a). A single area measuring 0.65ha in size was identified as needing further investigation. The excavation uncovered a small number of features dating from the Early Neolithic and Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age periods, while the majority of features were dated as post-medieval.
A total of six features were dated as Early Neolithic, including one group of discrete pits and a tree root hollow. Given the relatively small size of the excavation area, the assemblage of Early Neolithic flintwork recovered from these features and as residual finds in later features and the topsoil was substantial. In addition, Early Neolithic pottery was also recovered from the earliest features.
Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age activity was identified primarily in the south-east quadrant of the excavated area and included 13 discrete features. Residual sherds of Late Bronze Age pottery were also recovered from post-medieval field system ditches.
The majority of activity at the site dated to the post-medieval period. Features included a ditched field system, possibly related to animal husbandry, together with a small number of associated discrete features, most notably two animal burials. The field system ditches follow alignments depicted on the Ordnance Survey first edition map of 1888.