THIRD INTERIM REPORT
by
Edward Biddulph

The third season of field research in the parish of Sedgeford continued with the on-going open-area excavations in Boneyard and West Hall Paddock, the survey of the church of St Mary the Virgin and its environs, and a non-destructive investigation of the deserted medieval hamlet of Eaton. No excavation of the Reeddam site was possible due to waterlogging.

The focus in 1998 remained the excavation of Boneyard, a field south of the main village, and the site of a middle to late Saxon cemetery and settlement. The 20 x 20m trench opened in the first season had not been fully excavated by the close of the second. One of two principal aims in 1998 was to complete this area, which had not been fully excavated by the close of the 1997 season. The second was to clarify our understanding of settlement evidence, and its stratigraphic relationship with the cemetery. These aims were largely achieved.

The quantity and quality of information recoveed this season has been enhanced by the introduction of a refined on-site recording system and more efficient finds processing. This underscores an important research aim of the project - to test archaeological procedures so that they may evolve and improve.

Boneyard
Twenty-seven skeletons, orientated W-E, were lifted this season, bringing the total so far to seventy-two. Basic analysis indicates a slight female predominance within the population. Juveniles account for 13%. Of the skeletons excavated this season, the possible causes of death were identifiable in three. Two are likely to have died through infections: one suffered from a bone infection, another from an abscess in the front of the skull and through the orbital bone. A third was possibly decapitated. Grave cuts were noticed for the first time. Some burials had been placed within a sandy soil, in contrast to the majority of burials, which were cut into a darker silty sand. This stratigraphic distinction may contribute to the phasing of the cemetery. Burials whose grave cuts cannot be seen were placed into soil build-up, rather than the natural sand, and are possibly later.

Some of the stratigraphic difficulties encountered last season have been clarified. The north-south running ditches and gullies to the east of the site, which were traced to their furthest northern extent, all appear to post date the cemetery. Significantly, a burial within a group of disturbed skeletons had been truncated by one of these features - a middle Saxon gully. This represents the beginning of another phase of middle Saxon settlement activity, and marks cemetery disuse, suggesting this part of the cemetery at least dates towards the earlier part of the period. That the cemetery is of this date, rather than late Saxon as previously supposed, is further suggested by a group of burials to the west which lie below late Saxon rubbish deposits.

Across the site, ephemeral structural evidence, almost certainly post-dating the cemetery, was encountered. Part of the southern balk was stripped back revealing discrete areas of cobbling and linear flint spreads, interpreted as a truncated floor surface with associated wall foundations. Finds included domestic ironwork and a piece of late Saxon stained glass. However, at least some of this evidence may represent natural deposition, as it appears consistent with the periglacial phenomenon of 'patterned ground'. Other structural elements included deposits of rammed chalk, dated no later than late Saxon, which possibly formed surfaces for ovens or hearths, suggested by proximate burnt soil and charcoal. In the SE corner was a sequence of extensive superimposed chalky clay layers. These were partly excavated in 1996 and interpreted as ditch fills, though they probably represent phases of flooring. To the west, a narrow N-S gully was revealed. Within it were six shallow scoops, possibly post-holes, and perhaps a foundation trench for a timber structure.

Boneyard in 1998.

In West Hall Paddock, situated immediately south of the Church of St Mary, and within the presumed area of a medieval manor complex, the excavation of trenches A and B resumed. Site B, closed at the start of last season, was re-opened in order to gain a clearer understanding of the sequence of deposits dumped during the medieval period. A secondary aim was to sample the underlying peat deposits to reconstruct the pre-medieval environment. A resistivity survey south of the excavation areas suggests that the substantial chalk wall from site A, exposed in 1997, and initially considered to represent a high status structure, more likely forms part of a boundary wall. Associated finds and documentary evidence suggest a 13th century date. The sequence of cobbled surfaces butting the west side of the wall was reinterpreted as a footpath, which appears to lead to the south end of the churchyard. West of the cobbles, and associated with them, is a sequence of boundaries. First of these is a N-S ditch. This was backfilled with chalk and replaced by a fence, indicated by a line of stake-holes, replaced in turn by another wall. This wall was dated by pottery to after c. 1400, and possibly divided the land of the Benedictine Priory manor and that of the de Sedgefords. Some evidence for activity prior to the 13th century was also recovered. This included a foundation for a possible structure or wall, which lay below the 13th century level, and a large cut feature sealed by peat. These will be investigated further during the 1999 season.

The recording of the fabric of the church of St Mary the Virgin continued, and some progress was made towards defining a sequence of the stages of building and repair. It is hoped that, as some stages can be dated quite closely, a better chronology may be given for the whole. A resistivity survey within the churchyard revealed the extent of the east end of the chancel demolished circa 1770. It was shown to extend some 6 metres, becoming narrower. The north transept seems to have fallen into disrepair somewhat earlier. Also, a survey in the north-west end of the vicarage grounds revealed a large, possibly structural, platform. As part of a field history course, comparison was made with other churches related to Sedgeford by manorial ownership, or certain shared features such as round towers. A search in the Norfolk Record Office for relevant material was also undertaken. This revealed that prior to the mid 18th century there are very few specific church records, though items can be gleaned from the study of wills, manorial records, deeds of gift and the like.