NHER 29574 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of a possible Bronze Age or Roman ring ditch with an annexe

17 July 1986. NAU aerial photography.
Ring ditch cropmark.
D. Edwards (NAU).

A most odd feature. It has a tiny rectangular enclosure attached to southeast quadrant with serpentine mark leading away. Not at all like a Bronze Age ring ditch.
E. Rose (NLA) 22 March 1993

October 2006. Norfolk NMP.
A cropmark of an unusual ring ditch with a rectangular annexe is visible on aerial photographs (S1). The central grid reference for this ring ditch has been corrected. The ring ditch is slightly sub-circular in plan with an external diameter of up to 24m. The ditch itself varies from approximately 0.5m wide on the north side to 2.5m wide on the southeast side. Attached to the south side of the ring ditch is a rectangular enclosure that is defined by a 1m wide ditch and measures approximately 4m by 2.5m internally. A curvilinear ditch cropmark extends from the corner of this enclosure for 86m to the southeast. It appears to terminate at the cropmark of a 2m sub-square pit.

The form of these cropmarks is very unusual. On its own the ring ditch cropmark could be interpreted as relating to a possible Bronze Age round barrow. However, the presence of the rectangular annexe raises the possibility that this is a Roman enclosure perhaps relating to a temple or shrine. The curvilinear cropmark leading away from the enclosure heads slightly down the slope, indicating that it is probably a drain leading to a pit, rather than a channel supplying water to the enclosure from spring or well. A cropmark of a second incomplete ring ditch is present further to the north (NHER 45135).
J. Albone (NMP) 11 October 2006.