Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T11:57:00.742Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Neolithic and Bronze Age Norfolk

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

Trevor Ashwin
Affiliation:
Norfolk Archaeological Unit, Union House, Gressenhall, Dereham, NR20 4DR

Abstract

This paper offers a summary of our present archaeological knowledge of the modern county of Norfolk, a large and geographically diverse tract of northern East Anglia, during the 5th–2nd millennia BC. It concludes by listing some topics deserving of future research.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ApSimon, A. 1976. Ballynagilly and the beginning and end of the Irish Neolithic. In de Laet, S.J.. (ed.), Acculturation and Continuity in Atlantic Europe, 1530. Bruges.Google Scholar
Ashbee, P. 1960. The Bronze Age Round Barrow in Britain. London: Phoenix House.Google Scholar
Ashwin, T.M. 1995. Two Mile Bottom, Thetford: report on archaeological evaluation, July 1995. Unpublished, Norfolk Archaeological Unit Report 132.Google Scholar
Ashwin, T.M. & Bates, S.J. in press. Excavations on the Norwich Southern Bypass, 1989–91. Part I: Excavations at Bixley, Caistor St Edmund and Trowse. East Dereham: East Anglian Archaeology.Google Scholar
Bamford, H.M. 1982. Beaker Domestic Sites in the Fen Edge and East Anglia. East Dereham: East Anglian Archaeology 16.Google Scholar
Barclay, A. & Halpin, C. in press. Excavations at Barrow Hills, Radley, Oxon. Volume I: The Neolithic and Bronze Age Monument Complex. Oxford: Thames Valley Landscapes.Google Scholar
Barringer, C. (ed.) 1984. Aspects of East Anglian Prehistory (20 years after Rainbird Clarke). Norwich: Geo Books.Google Scholar
Bennett, K.D. 1983. Devensian, late glacial and Flandrian vegetational history at Hockham Mere, Norfolk, England: 1. Pollen percentages and concentrations. New Phytologist 95, 457–87CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bond, D. 1988. Excavations at the North Ring, Mucking, Essex: A Late Bronze Age Enclosure. Chelmsford: East Anglian Archaeology 43.Google Scholar
Bradley, R. 1980. Subsistence, exchange and technology — a social framework for the Bronze Age in southern England, c. 1400–700 bc. In Barrett, J. & Bradley, R. (eds), Settlement and Society in the British Later Bronze Age, 5775. Oxford: British Archaeological Report 83.Google Scholar
Bradley, R. 1984a. Studying monuments. In Bradley, R. & Gardiner, J. (eds), Neolithic Studies: a review of some current research, 61–6. Oxford: British Archaeological Report 133.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bradley, R. 1984b. Regional systems in Neolithic Britain. In Bradley, R. & Gardiner, J. (eds), Neolithic Studies: a review of some current research, 514. Oxford: British Archaeological Report 133.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bradley, R. 1984c. The Social Foundations of Prehistoric Britain. London: Longman.Google Scholar
Bradley, R. 1993. Where is East Anglia? Themes in Regional Prehistory. In Gardiner, J. (ed.), Flatlands and Wetlands: current themes in East Anglian archaeology, 513. East Dereham: East Anglian Archaeology 50.Google Scholar
Bradley, R. & Edmonds, M. 1993. Interpreting the Axe Trade: production and exchange in Neolithic Britain. Cambridge: University Press.Google Scholar
Bradley, R. & Holgate, R. 1984. The Neolithic sequence in the Upper Thames Valley. In Bradley, R. & Gardiner, J. (eds), Neolithic Studies: a review of current research, 107–34. Oxford: British Archaeological Report 133.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Briscoe, G. 1957. Swale's Tumulus: a combined Neolithic and Bronze Age barrow at Worlington, Suffolk. Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society 50, 101–12.Google Scholar
Buckley, D.G., Major, H. & Milton, B. 1988. Excavation of a possible Neolithic long barrow or mortuary enclosure at Rivenhall, Essex, 1986. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 54, 7791.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Case, H.J. 1977. The Beaker culture in Britain and Ireland. In Mercer, R.J. (ed.), Beakers in Britain and Europe: four studies, 71101. Oxford: British Archaeological Report S26.Google Scholar
Clare, T. 1987. Towards a reappraisal of henge monuments: origins, evolution and hierarchy. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 53, 457–78.Google Scholar
Clark, J.D.G. 1936. The timber monument at Arminghall and its affinities. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 2, 151.Google Scholar
Clark, J.D.G. 1985. The Prehistoric Society: From East Anglia to the World. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 51, 114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cleal, R.M.J. 1984. The later Neolithic in eastern England. In Bradley, R. & Gardiner, J. (eds), Neolithic Studies: a review of some current research. 135–60. Oxford: British Archaeological Report 133.Google Scholar
Corbett, W.M. & Tatler, W. 1974. Soils of Norfolk II. Harpenden: Soil Survey Records 21.Google Scholar
Cummins, W.A. 1979. Neolithic stone axes: distribution and trade in England and Wales. In Clough, T.H. McK & Cummins, W.A. (eds), Stone Axe Studies, 513. London: Council for British Archaeology Research Report 23.Google Scholar
Davies, J.A. 1996. Where eagles dare: the Iron Age of Norfolk. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 62, 6392.Google Scholar
Dent, J.S. 1979. Bronze Age Burials from Wetwang Slack. Yorkshire Archaeological Journal 51, 2340 Google Scholar
Dymond, D. & Martin, E.A. 1988. An Historical Atlas of Suffolk. Ipswich: Suffolk County Council/Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History.Google Scholar
Edmonds, M. 1995. Stone Tools and Society. London: Batsford.Google Scholar
Edwards, D.A. 1978. The air photographs collection of the Norfolk Archaeological Unit: third report, 87105. East Dereham: East Anglian Archaeology 8.Google Scholar
Gardiner, J.P. 1984. Lithic distrihutions and Neolithic settlement patterns in central southern England. In Bradley, R. & Gardiner, J. (eds), Neolithic Studies: a review of some current research, 1540. Oxford: British Archaeological Report 133.Google Scholar
Garwood, P., Ambers, J., Bowman, S., Hedges, R. & Housely, R. in press. Radiocarbon dating. In Barclay, A. and Halpin, C. (eds), Excavations at Barrow Hills, Radley, Oxon. Volume I: The Neolithic and Bronze Age Monument Complex. Oxford: Thames Valley Landscapes.Google Scholar
Gibson, A. 1994. Excavations at the Sarn-y-bryn-caled Cursus complex, Welshpool, Powys, and the timber circles of Great Britain and Ireland. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 60, 143224.Google Scholar
Godwin, H. 1944. Age and origin of the ‘Breckland’ heaths of East Anglia. Nature 154, 6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Godwin, H. & Tallantire, P.A. 1951. Studies in the postglacial history of British vegetation XII. Hockham Mere, Norfolk. Journal of Ecology 39, 285307.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hall, D. & Goles, J. 1994. Eenland Survey. An essay in landscape and persistence. London: English Heritage Archaeological Report 1.Google Scholar
Harris, D.R. 1994. Pathways to World prehistory: Presidential Address 1994. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 60, 114 Google Scholar
Haward, F.N. 1914. A workshop site of primitive culture at Two Mile Bottom, Thetford. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia 1, 461–7.Google Scholar
Healy, F. 1984. Farming and field monuments: the Neolithic in Norfolk. In Barringer, (ed.), 1984, 77140.Google Scholar
Healy, F. 1986. The excavation of two Early Bronze Age barrows on Eaton Heath, Norwich, 1969–70. In Lawson, et al. , 1986, 50–8.Google Scholar
Healy, F. 1988. The Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Spong Hill, North Ehnham. Part VI: occupation during the seventh to second millennia BC. East Dereham: East Anglian Archaeology 39Google Scholar
Healy, F. 1991. Appendix 1: lithics and pre-Iron Age pottery. In Silvester, , 1991, 116–40.Google Scholar
Healy, F. 1995. Pots, pits and peat: ceramics and settlement in east Anglia. In Kinnes, I., & Varndell, G. (eds), ‘Unbaked Urns of Rudely Shape’. Essays on British and Irish Pottery for Ian Longworth, 173–84. Oxford: Oxbow Monograph 55.Google Scholar
Healy, F. in press. The Eenland Project No. 11. The Wissey Embayment: a survey of the evidence for pre-Iron Age settlement accumulated prior to the Eenland Survey. East Anglian Archaeology 78.Google Scholar
Healy, F. & Housley, R.A. 1992. Nancy was not alone: human skeletons of the Early Bronze Age from the Norfolk peat fen. Antiquity 66, 948–55.Google Scholar
Healy, F. & Petersen, F. 1986. The excavation of two round barrows and a ditched enclosure on Weasenham Lyngs, 1972. In Lawson, et al. ., 1986, 70102.Google Scholar
Healy, F., Cleal, R.M.J. & Kinnes, I.A. 1993. Excavations on Redgate Hill, Hunstanton, 1970 and 1971. In P., Chowne Cleal, R.M.J. Healy, F. & Kinnes, I.A., Excavations on Redgate Hill, Hunstanton, Norfolk and at Tattershall Thorpe, Lincolnshire, 180. East Dereham: East Anglian Archaeology 57.Google Scholar
Hey, G. 1993. Yarnton Floodplain 1992: Post-Excavation Assessment. Unpublished report, Oxford Archaeological Unit.Google Scholar
Hill, J.D. 1995. How should we understand Iron Age societies and hillforts? A contextual study from southern Britain. In Hill, J.D. & Cumberpatch, C.G. (eds), Different Iron Ages: studies on the Iron Age in temperate Europe, 4566. Oxford: British Archaeological Report S602.Google Scholar
Hodder, I. & Shand, P. 1988. The Haddenham long barrow: an interim statement. Antiquity 62, 349–53.Google Scholar
Hogg, A.H.A. 1940. A long barrow at West Rudham, Norfolk. Norfolk Archaeology 27, 315–31.Google Scholar
Jacobi, R. 1984. The Mesolithic of northern East Anglia and contemporary territories. In Barringer, , 1984, 4376.Google Scholar
Kinnes, I.A. 1979. Round Barrows and Ring-ditches in the British Neolithic. London: British Museum Occasional Paper 7.Google Scholar
Kinnes, I.A. et al. 1983. Duggleby Howe reconsidered. Archaeological Journal 140, 83108.Google Scholar
Kinnes, I.A. 1987. Circumstances not context: the Neolithic of Scotland as seen from outside. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 115, 1557.Google Scholar
Kinnes, I.A., Gibson, A., Ambers, J., Bowman, S., Leese, M. & Boast, R. 1991. Radiocarbon dating and British Beakers: the British Museum programme. Scottish Archaeological Review 8, 3568.Google Scholar
Lawson, A.J. 1980. The evidence for later Bronze Age settlement and burial in Norfolk, 271–94. In Barrett, J. & Bradley, R. (eds), Settlement and Society in the British Later Bronze Age. Oxford: British Archaeological Report 83.Google Scholar
Lawson, A.J. 1983. The Archaeology of Witton, near North Walsham. East Dereham: East Anglian Archaeology 18.Google Scholar
Lawson, A.J. 1984. The Bronze Age in East Anglia, with particular reference to Norfolk. In Barringer, , 1984, 141–71.Google Scholar
Lawson, A.J. 1986. The excavation of a ring-ditch at Bowthorpe, Norwich, 1979, in Lawson, et al. , 1986, 2049.Google Scholar
Lawson, A.J., Martin, E.A. & Priddy, D. 1981. The Barrows of East Anglia, East Dereham: East Anglian Archaeology 12.Google Scholar
Lawson, A.J., Bown, J., Healy, F., Hegarat, R. le & Petersen, F. 1986. Barrow Excavations in Norfolk, 1950–82. East Dereham: East Anglian Archaeology 29.Google Scholar
Lawson, A.J. & Wymer, J.J. 1993. The Bronze Age, in An Historical Atlas of Norfolk, 30–1. Norwich: Norfolk Museums ServiceGoogle Scholar
Leah, M. 1992. The Fenland Management Project, Norfolk, Eenland Research 7, 4959.Google Scholar
Limbrey, S. & Evans, J.G., 1978. The Effect of Man on the Landscape: the lowland zone. London: Council for British Archaeology Research Report 23.Google Scholar
Longworth, I.H. 1984. Collared Urns of the Bronze Age in Great Britain and Ireland. Cambridge: University Press.Google Scholar
Martin, E.A. 1977. The excavation of two tumuli on Waterhill Farm, Chippenham, Cambs, 1973, Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society 66, 126.Google Scholar
Martingell, H. 1988. The flint industry. In Wilkinson, T.J., Archaeology and Environment in South Essex, 70–3. Chelmsford: East Anglian Archaeology 42.Google Scholar
Mercer, R.J. 1981. Grimes Graves, Norfolk: Excavations 1971–72, Fascicule 1. London: Department of the Environment Archaeology Report 11.Google Scholar
Mortimer, J.R. 1905. Forty Years' Researches in British and Saxon Burial Mounds of East Yorkshire. London & Hull: A. Brown & Sons.Google Scholar
Murphy, P. 1984. Prehistoric environments and economies. In Barringer, , 1984, 1330.Google Scholar
Murphy, P. 1988. Botanical evidence. In Healy, F., The Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Spong Hill, North Elmham. Part VI: occupation during the seventh to second millennia BC, 103. East Dereham: East Anglian Archaeology 39.Google Scholar
Murphy, P. in press. Botanical evidence. In Ashwin, T. & Bates, S., in press.Google Scholar
Norfolk Museums Service. 1977. Bronze Age Metalwork in Norwich Castle Museum. Norwich: Norfolk Museums Services, 2nd edition.Google Scholar
Palmer, R. 1976. Interrupted ditch enclosures in Britain: the use of aerial photography for comparative studies. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 42, 161–86.Google Scholar
Powlesland, D.J. 1986. Excavations at Heslerton, North Yorkshire, 1978–1982. Archaeological Journal 143, 53173.Google Scholar
Pryor, F.M.M. & French, C.A.I. 1985. The Fenland Project No.1. Archaeology and Environment in the Lower Welland Valley. Cambridge: East Anglian Archaeology 27.Google Scholar
Rogerson, A. 1995. Fransham: An Archaeological and Historical Study of a Parish on the Norfolk Boulder Clay. University of East Anglia: unpublished PhD thesis.Google Scholar
Rowlands, M.J. 1976. The Production and Distribution of Metalwork in the Middle Bronze Age in Southern Britain. Oxford: British Archaeological Report 31.Google Scholar
Sainty, J.E., Watson, A.Q. & Clarke, R.R. 1938. The first Norfolk long barrow. Norfolk Archaeology 26, 315–29.Google Scholar
Scole Committee. 1973. The Problems and future of East Anglian Archaeology: Report of the Scole Archaeological Committee.Google Scholar
Silvester, R.J. 1991. The Fenland Project No. 4: Norfolk Survey, The Wissey Embayment and Fen Causeway. East Dereham: East Anglian Archaeology 52.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M. & Reimer, P.J. 1986. A computer program for radiocarbon age calculation. Radiocarbon 28, 1022–30.Google Scholar
Thorpe, I.J. 1984. Ritual, power and ideology: a reconstruction of earlier Neolithic rituals in Wessex. In Bradley, R. & Gardiner, J. (eds), Neolithic Studies: a review of some current research, 4160. Oxford: British Archaeological Report 133.Google Scholar
Wainwright, G.J. 1972. The excavation of a Neolithic settlement on Broome Heath, Ditchingham, Norfolk. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 38, 197.Google Scholar
West, S.E. 1990. West Stow, the Prehistoric and Romano-British Occupations. Bury St Edmunds: East Anglian Archaeology 48.Google Scholar
Williamson, T. 1987. Early co-axial field systems on the East Anglian boulder clays. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 53, 419–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whimster, R. 1981. Burial Practises in Iron Age Britain. Oxford: British Archaeological Report 90.Google Scholar
Whittle, A.W.R. 1978. Resources and population in the British Neolithic. Antiquity 52, 3442.Google Scholar
Wymer, J.J. 1990. A cremation burial at Alpington. Norfolk Archaeology 41, 71–4.Google Scholar
Wymer, J.J. & Healy, F. in press. Neolithic and Bronze Age activity and settlement at Longham and Beeston with Bittering, Norfolk. in Wymer, in press.Google Scholar
Wymer, J.J., & Robins, P.A. 1995. A Mesolithic site at Great Melton, Norfolk Archaeology 42, 125–47.Google Scholar
Wymer, J.J., in press. Barrow Excavations in Norfolk, 1984–88. East Dereham: East Anglian Archaeology 77.Google Scholar