NHER 12809 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Possible Bronze Age ring ditches

Probable ring ditch. Other marks in same field are possibly fragments of others.
Located E. Rose (NAU), 13 September 1977.

NAU air photographs.
Cropmarks of three ring ditches in field of very ripe cereals.
Precise location of each ring ditch as follows: TG 1140 1061, TG 1150 1065 and TG 1178 1052.
See overlays for NHER record maps (S2) compiled by D. Edwards (NAU).
D. Edwards (NAU), 21 January 1980.

See also NHER 12808 for a further ring ditch to the north-east.
A. Cattermole (NLA), 17 February 2009.

June 2010. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks, soilmarks and slight earthworks of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery, containing at least four barrows, are visible on aerial photographs to the north of Grange Lane, Honingham (S1, S3-4). The site is centred on TG 1155 1061. The clearest components of the group are the three western barrows, where very slight earthworks and remains of the central mound are clearly visible, ranging in size from 20-27m (S4). The fragmentary arc of possible ditch mapped to the northeast of the group (S1) is the least convincing and may relate to underlying geological factors. The barrow cemetery appears to be located on the edge of a ridge of slightly higher ground overlooking the valley to the north. Another ring ditch (NHER 12808) located approximately 700m to the northeast is likely to represent an outlier to the cemetery. Numerous finds of a Neolithic and Bronze Age date have been recovered from the general vicinity of these barrows, including Neolithic knives and Late Bronze Age axes (NHER 20008, 36671).
S. Horlock (NMP), 04 June 2010.

January 2016. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of southern part of field west of Blind Lane and north of Grange Lane.
The area examined coincided with the southern half of the probable barrow recorded at TG 1142 1060, which was shown to be associated with a substantial surviving ring-ditch. A number of discrete anomalies recorded within its interior were of uncertain origin but potentially represented infilled pit-type features.
There was no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with the possible cropmark ring-ditch recorded to the east, at TG 1176 1057.
See report (S5) and NHER 65209 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 16 May 2022.

March-April 2016. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of southern part of field west of Blind Lane and north of Grange Lane.
Two of the excavated trenches were positioned to investigate the ring-ditch at TG 1142 1060. As expected, the associated ditch was found to be a substantial feature, between 2.25m and 5.20m wide and up to 0.56m deep. In both excavated slots two fills were recorded, the uppermost of which appeared to extend beyond the uppermost parts of the ditch cut, suggesting it was at least partially composed of eroded bank material. This secondary fill produced a residual Early Neolithic flint flake, a small quantity of pottery of probable mid to late 1st century AD date, and a copper alloy Roman pin.
No features were identified within the small portion of its interior examined.
There was again no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with the possible cropmark ring-ditch recorded at TG 1176 1057.
See report (S6) and NHER 65209 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 16 May 2022.

November 2019-February 2020. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of land on route of proposed North Tuddenham to Easton A47 Improvement Works.
One of the areas examined coincided with the fragmentary possible ring-ditch recorded at TG 1171 1063. There was no clear evidence for associated sub-surface remains.
Information from draft report, see NHER 65209 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 May 2022.

July-October 2020. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of land on route of proposed North Tuddenham to Easton A47 Improvement Works.
A trench excavated across the site of the possible ring-ditch recorded at TG 1171 1063 had ambiguous results. A slight rise in ground level was noted at this location and a soil horizon was interpreted as the possible remains of a barrow mound. A ditch exposed in this trench was seen as potentially related to this deposit, although it lay some distance from the recorded position of the cropmark. At present the exact nature of these remains is uncertain, particularly as dating evidence was limited to two pottery sherds of probable Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age date.
See report (S7) and NHER 65209 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 13 May 2022.