The Deserted Medieval Village of Thuxton, Norfolk

Description

With contributions from Neil Batcock, Judith Cartledge and Catherine Hills. Illustrations by B. Bennison, Gillian Jones, Margaret Mathews, H. Spalding and M. G. Stroud, and photographs by Lawrence Butler, Derek A. Edwards, Peter Wade-Martins, David Wicks and K. Wallis The survey and excavation of a good example of a large linear village site in central Norfolk, at least twenty-nine tofts being visible. Two house sites and the front of a single toft were excavated, and the results of fieldwalking within the parish are also presented. Thuxton is compared with Grenstein, a similar site excavated shortly afterwards. List of Contents v List of Plates v List of Figures vi List of Tables vi Contents of Microfiche vi Contributors vii Acknowledgements vii Preface, by Peter Wade-Martins viii I. Summary, by Lawrence Butler 1 II. General Introduction, by Lawrence Butler 1 Introduction 1 Location 1 III. St Paul's Church, by Neil Batcock 3 Architectural description 3 Interpretation and dating 7 IV. Site Discovery, Recording and Fieldwork, by Peter Wade-Martins 8 V. Site Description, by Peter Wade-Martins 8 The eastern area 8 The western area 12 Moat near the church 16 VI. 1963 Excavations of Tofts 8 and 10, by Peter Wade-Martins 17 Toft 8 17 Toft 10 19 VII. 1964 Excavations of Toft 2, by Lawrence Butler 22 Introduction 22 Period I: Layer E 25 Period II: Layer D 26 Period III: Layer C 2Y Period IV: Layer B 35 VIII. Objects of Metal, Bone and Clay, by Lawrence Butler with a contribution by Catherine Hills 36 Introduction 36 Numbering of finds 36 Metalwork 36 Iron slag 40 Objects of bone 40 Objects of fired clay 40 IX. The Pottery, by Lawrence Butler and Vivienne Jones 40 Introduction 40 Site locations 41 Coarse wares 42 Glazed wares 46 X. Brick and Tile, by Lawrence Butler 50 XI. Objects of Stone, by Lawrence Butler 51 XII. The Animal Bone, by Judith Cartledge 52 Identification 52 Range and ratio of species 52 The main mammal species 52 Degree of bone preservation 54 Discussion 54 A note on the burial of horse skulls, by Lawrence Butler 54 XIII. Documentary Evidence, by Lawrence Butler 54 XIV. The Parish and its Fields, by Lawrence Butler 56 XV. Discussion and conclusion, by Lawrence Butler 58 Interpretation and reconstruction of buildings 58 The rural economy 62 Conclusion 62 Endnotes 64 Bibliography 65 Index 68 Microfiche (35 pp.)