CHAPTER 2: PREHISTORIC HAPPING

THE SUTTON SHIELD

The climate was very different during the Palaeolithic [Old Stone Age] Era (pre 10,000 BC) as shown by the bones of Elephants, Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus, Hyena, etc found in East Anglia (1). However, it is considered that only intermittent human occupation occurred at this time (2). Majority of the artefacts recorded from this period in Happing (2002) were flint hand axes, which suggests forest clearance. Little activity is noted in Happing during the Mesolithic [Middle Stone Age] Era (10,000 BC - 5,000 BC) with few artefacts recorded (2002). During the Neolithic [New Stone Age] Era (5,000 BC - 2,500 BC) majority of the artefacts found in Happing (2002) are concentrated on higher ground and not in the river valleys, possibly reflecting the ingress of the sea. No Neolithic artefacts have been found around the Ludham area. The 28 polished flint axe heads found suggest 'society' as flint is fragile and is prone to break when used as an axe. Hence, due to the amount of work involved in the polishing, a polished flint axe was probably some form of status symbol as opposed to a working axe. The number of Bronze Age (2,500 BC - 800 BC) artefacts recorded in Happing (2002) increases significantly from the Neolithic Era and possibly suggests an increase in the population. Bronze Age activity appears to be concentrated around the Sutton area, which could indicate a tribal centre or sacred site where offerings were deposited in water to their gods (a practice still continued today in the form of wishing wells). Elsewhere in Happing, recorded artefacts are widely distributed manly on the higher ground, with the exception of Waxham and Horsey where artefacts could now be covered by peat layers. There is no natural copper or tin ore in Norfolk so all raw materials must have been imported, probably by trading. Two possible bronze hoards (buried scrap) recorded suggest metal smiths working in the area and the 4 swords (or daggers) plus a shield suggest warfare. The marshes around Happing would have made good sheep grazing and generally in Norfolk, sheep were kept for meat during the Bronze Age, although loom-weights found indicate that wool was being collected for weaving (3). The 14 bronze axe heads recorded indicates further forest clearance and 10 possible ring ditches (a cremation or inhumation burial site surrounded by a ditch) suggests religious belief. All these factors suggest a sophisticated culture living in Happing during the Bronze Age. Fewer artefacts dating from the Iron Age (800 BC - 43 AD), compared to Bronze Age, have been recorded in Happing (2002). However, this could just reflect the fact that iron deteriorates faster than bronze plus more Iron Age pottery has been recorded than Bronze Age pottery. The Norfolk Iron Age tribe were called the Iceni and probably consisted of a group of smaller tribes, as in 54 AD Julius Caesar describes then as the Cenimagni - the Greater Iceni (4). Compared with the Iron Age treasures from Snettisham and Sedgeford in west Norfolk, it is possible that east Norfolk (including Happing) may have been occupied by one of these smaller (possibly poorer) tribes, which could explain the general lack of finds. Some historians consider that the west side of Norfolk was settled before the east side and that society underwent a progressive fragmentation during the Iron Age until around 60 BC when larger groups started to emerge (5). However, Iceni coins have been found in Sea Palling and in Brumstead along with a possible Iron Age round house in Ingham. A terret ring (part of a horse harness) indicates the use of horses in Happing.

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