NHER 17657 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of probable Bronze Age round barrow or Iron Age mortuary enclosure

The central grid reference of the site has been altered from TG 1246 1706 to TG 1244 1709. The possible square barrow referred to below is now under NHER 50650.

19 July 1977. NAU air photography.
One ring ditch and an adjacent square feature (ditched) were observed as cropmarks in aerial photos amongst evidence of tile-draining. Possibly a square Iron Age barrow?

15 October 1993. NLA air photography.
Area in which features are located can be seen, however cropmarks are not clear.
H. Clare (NLA), 16 February 2001.

25 June 1996. NLA air photography.
Cropmarks visible.
H. Clare (NLA), 23 August 2001.

NGR corrected from original (TG 1243 1705).
M. Horlock (NLA), 24 March 2003.

October 2007. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a ring ditch, probably the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow, are visible on aerial photographs to the northeast of Morton village (S1-S3). This ring ditch may have formed part of a Bronze Age barrow cemetery located along the valley floor (NHER 50649). The presence of a barrow cemetery in this general area was noted in the 1830s (see NHER 7728) and it is likely that some components of this group (NHER 50649), along with NHER 50646 to the north and NHER 45361 to the southwest, correspond with the earthworks recorded in the 1830s. The site is located on the river valley floor, between the 10-15m contours. The present course of the River Wensum runs to its immediate northeast. The square-ditched enclosure, possibly the remains of an Iron Age to Roman funerary monument, previously recorded under this number is now under NHER 50650. It is possible that the square enclosure was constructed at a later date, in reference to the earlier round barrow.

The ring ditch is centred on TG 1244 1709 and the ring ditch is 13m in diameter. The northern quadrant of the ring is not visible on the aerial photographs.
S. Massey (NMP), 22 October 2007.

March 2008. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a similar sized ring ditch located adjacent to a square or trapezoidal enclosure, again of similar size, were identified at Watlington (NHER 50968). Ring ditches of a similar, and oblong enclosures, excavated at the site (NHER 39458) surrounded unurned cremation deposits and were interpreted as late Iron Age mortuary enclosures. It is therefore possible, given the size of this ring ditch and the associated with a square ditched enclosure, that this ring ditch may relate to a late Iron Age mortuary enclosure and not a Bronze Age round barrow.
S. Massey (NMP), 05 March 2008.

February-March 2017. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on possible route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable.
Although the survey identified circular anomalies relating to two of the probable round barrows in this group there was no evidence for surviving remains associated with this cropmark.
Information from draft report. See NHER 66314 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 19 February 2025.