Archaeologists have discovered a rather unusual middle bronze age settlement in Norwich, Norfolk. The site, which was discovered along the Northern Distributor Road (NDR), is believed to have the potential to change the narrative of the Bronze Age in the UK.
The find comes after the Oxford Archeology East (OEA) engaged in thorough excavation works along the Norwich NDR for the past nine months. The site, which has caught the attention of archeologists, is located in Bell Farm, near Horsford, Norfolk.
While the settlement uncovered at Bell Farm has been dated to the middle Bronze Age due to the presence of pottery and household items that are typical of that time in history, there are some other findings which set the settlement apart.
The buildings in the Bell Farm settlement are not separated by ditches as is the case with other Bronze age settlements. Instead, they are separated by postholes. This curious feature sets the site apart from any other settlement of the period found in the UK so far.
The site, which is estimated to have been built around 1500- 1200 BC, has gained national importance after archaeologists confirmed its unique postholes. There are speculations that the postholes were used instead of ditches to look visually appealing. In an attempt to enhance the aesthetics, the people who built the fields may have put in a lot of extra labor.
Another factor that makes the settlement important is its size. Encompassing an area of 246 foot by 164 foot, the settlement includes roughly 10 structures and is by far one of the largest such Bronze Age settlements found in the UK.
As archeologists working on the project continue their excavation work for six more months, the site is expected to reveal several interesting artifacts which will be put on display at the Norwich Castle Museum sometime next year.