OUR DISCOVERY

Late in 2021 during some routine ditch maintenance at Dickleburgh Moor some “old wood” was discovered which turned out to be some very old wood indeed, in fact at least 3600 years old!

Discovery at Dickleburgh Moor

Early Bronze Age Trackway

The “old wood” forms part of an Early Bronze age trackway running on a roughly North/South alignment across the Moor. There are other associates structures adjacent to the trackway and other potential contemporary archaeology is hinted at across the whole site. ​

The archaeological dig 

​A rescue archaeological dig was performed by wet wood specialist Heather Wallis (http://www.hwallis.co.uk/)  under the direction of Historic England and  NCC. The trackway has been radiocarbon dated from between 1775 – 1623BC. The trackway is of national significance as it represents the 2nd oldest Bronze age wooden structure in Norfolk (being only 3/400 yrs. younger than the so-called Sea-henge) and the only trackway of this period in England. We are very lucky to have this amazing piece of archaeology on our site, making us not only a biodiversity hotspot in South Norfolk, but also a historic monument!  

Faden's 1797 Map redrawn (source - fadensmapofnorfolk.co.uk)

The archaeological dig

DIscovery AT DICKLEBURGH MOOR 

TimeLine of History

Further Work

Further work is now underway to investigate the over 130 pieces of wood retrieved from the site (most of which bear the marks of bronze tools) to determine tool use, type and number and hence an extrapolation of the number of persons involved in building the track way. Updates will follow!

Roman Activity

Evidence for Roman activity on the moor can be seen in the photograph which shows a 3rd century Roman coin. Indeed the Pye Road Runs along the Western edge of the Moor. There is also evidence of later activity with an Elizabethan silver coin and a variety of finds spanning to modern times, most notable of which are crotal bells which are significant as Dickleburgh Moor is actually the home of the Suffolk Punch horse (the breed being standardised at Dickleburgh Hall in 1765. The Otter Trust owns 7 Suffolk punch horses which are utilised for conservation grazing and provide a heritage link to the Moors past.

1st Photo - Elizabeth silver coin. 2nd Photo - 3rd century Roman coin. 3rd Photo - Crotal bells

Early in the Dig - The Wood

Ben Grief discussing some wood marks the findings at the moor.

Video Showing the Dig Site

Video tour of the waterlogged site.

The Location

Dickleburgh Moor
Dickleburgh
Diss
IP21 4NS