PM    Post-Medieval c.1500-1700 AD

         As per Medieval above, plus cloth-making seals, coinage and charitable tokens,

         sheep and horse bells. Early buttons.

MOD  Modern 1700-2000 AD

          Harness rings; animal crotal bells 17th-18th C; lead weights; buttons; tokens -

          trade and political; oyster shells; clay pipe-stems and bowls; musket balls and

          sporting cartridge cases; lead toy soldiers c.1900-1920; 1st & 2nd World War

          cartridge cases and bullets; various small pieces of molten air-frame and

          .50mm  caliber bullets and cases from a crashed WW2 USAAF B24 bomber

          (Tommy Thumper II ); a large collection of copper coinage (160 coins) spanning 200

          years ranging from William 111 (c.1690's) through to Elizabeth 11 

Field-walking Survey

The field-walking survey was carried out by 12 members of the Norfolk Archaeological & Historical Research Group (NAHRG) over 3 days in September 2006 prior to the re-seeding of the parkland. Surface materials recovered consisted firstly of worked pre-historic flints. These are of unusual quality and size, and some date back to the early Neolithic (c.4500-3000 BC).  Secondly,pottery was recovered dating from the late Saxon period (850-1100AD), the Medieval period (1100-1500 AD), the Post-Med period (1500-1700 AD), and Modern period (1700-1900 AD). This data has been placed on the NHER with public access.

Fieldwalking Survey Summary

This summary is based apon the NARHG fieldwalking survey of 8-10 September 2006. Full details are available on the HER 24898 database held at Gressenhall.

The Park was divided into 6 large areas roughly of equal size (approx. 200m x 100m) - areas A - F.   Each area was sub-divided into 20m wide x 200m length transects or strips.  Each transect was walked by 6 fieldwalkers. Flint and pottery finds were collected from all transects across the park. Finds were bagged, analysed and recorded according to their respective transect number. 

Due to the  timescale of preparation for grass resurfacing only 3 days were available for the survey. Extremely dry and rough textured landscape surfacing made finds difficult to see. In more favourable conditions the recovery rate might have been greater than it was. Never -theless, important finds were made, reflecting historic activities on this landscape.

Flints

Worked prehistoric flints were recovered from across all areas. Many are simply flakes or debitage from flint-tool making. These are very difficult to date, but probably reflect both Neolithic and Bronze Age activity. Two areas in particular are noteworthy: areas C & D reflect an area of probable Early Neolithic (c.4500-3000 BC) tool-making. Debitage reflects axe rough-outing, cores, scraper and large blade manufacture. A distinct spread of large worked flint is clearly evident reaching out into the field on the east of area C & D. This work reflects surface exploitation of large flint nodules or pebbles. Also of note are a number of very large worked flakes found on area E, again identifying with the Early Neolithic. Early Neolithic flint-working sites are not common in Norfolk, and the nearest of note to Catton have been located at Colney, Ringland Hills and Whitlingham.

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