Thickthorn Park and Ride Extension, Norwich, Norfolk

Between the 23rd and 27th January 2023, Oxford Archaeology conducted an archaeological evaluation at land adjacent to Thickthorn Park and Ride, Norwich, Norfolk (TG 18047 05277). A total of eighteen 30m long trenches, which represented a 3.5% sample of the c.4.7ha site, were excavated within a proposed extension of the existing Thickthorn Park and Ride.
Trenches were placed to investigate possible archaeological features identified as anomalies by geophysics, LiDAR, and National Mapping Programme (NMP) data. In most cases where geophysical anomalies and cropmarks occurred, features were not uncovered. However, the geophysical survey and NMP data did detect some of the archaeological features encountered on site.
Ten of the trenches were devoid of archaeology (Trenches 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, and 18), although a natural palaeochannel was observed and recorded in Trenches 2, 5, 10, and 17. The features uncovered elsewhere largely comprised ditches, although possible pits and gullies were also identified. A ditch encountered in Trenches 8 and 11 probably represents a post‐medieval field boundary.
Most features encountered within the site were undated due to a lack of artefacts or clear spatial relationships between features. Two sherds of late 12th‐14th century pottery were recovered from the site. A single shard of glass recovered from a ditch was dated to the 17th century. These finds are suggestive of medieval to post‐medieval activity on the site. Two flint flakes of probable Neolithic date recovered from the palaeochannel, and topsoil is indicative of prehistoric activity in the wider area.
Overall, the archaeological works have revealed a low density of poorly dated archaeological remains across the site which probably represent post‐medieval, agricultural activity with no evidence of associated settlement.