Site Event/Activity record ESF20826 - Archaeological Survey, Naunton Hall, Rendlesham

During 2008 a programme of archaeological survey was begun on land around Naunton Hall, Rendlesham following reports of illicit metal detecting. The area had previously been identified as one of the potential locations for a royal palace as mentioned in Bede, and fieldwork in 1982 confirmed an Anglo-Saxon presence but with little indication of high status activity. The results of the 1982 survey and excavation are included in this report, along with the air photographic, magnetometer, topographic and metal detecting surveys carried out in 2008 and the first half of 2009. These suggest that there may have been prehistoric monuments visible in the Anglo-Saxon landscape at Rendlesham, including at least one Bronze Age barrow, just possibly a Neolithic cursus, and a probably late prehistoric enclosure. Anglo-Saxon activity begins by the 6th century – probably both settlement and cemetery areas can be identified within the survey area. The metal-detected finds indicate an extensive high status Anglo-Saxon settlement, probable traces of which appear in the magnetometer survey. Suggestions are made for further archaeological work to test the conclusions so far. The project was funded by the Sutton Hoo Society with additional support from Suffolk County Council.