NHER 32062 (Monument record) - Trackway and and field system of probable later prehistoric date south of Repps Road

12 July 1990. NAU air photography.
Cropmarks of trackway and field systems.
D. Edwards (NAU)

July 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The trackway and ‘field systems’ described above are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs (S1)-(S2), centred at TG 4466 1722. The trackway is visible as two parallel ditches between TG 4475 1739 and TG 4490 1695; the southern end is visible only as a single, wide cropmark, while a short segment of ditch at TG 4476 1749 may be a northern continuation. It is similar to tracks of probable Iron Age or later prehistoric date identified elsewhere in Norfolk (e.g. NHER 34843 at Roughton), and this seems the most likely date for the cropmarks described here. The track appears to both be sited on and to respect two probable Bronze Age round barrows (NHER 44895 and 44896), most notably at TG 4456 1704 where its southeast side ‘kinks’ around ring ditch NHER 44896. It could, in fact, have formed part of a long distance track (and boundary?), which ran along the line of an interfluve between the high ground to the south of Martham, southwest towards the high ground once marked by another probable barrow (NHER 18394) and now marked by the junction of three parish boundaries (Rollesby, Ashby with Oby and Fleggburgh). The trackway described here forms the northeastern end of this postulated alignment, with NHER 44897 and 44898 continuing it to the southwest. The other cropmarks, most of which are aligned parallel or at right angles to the trackway, are probably contemporary field boundaries which once divided up the land to either side of it. Their orientation certainly differs from that of both a possibly Bronze Age field system (NHER 27331) to the east, and the late post medieval pattern of land division depicted on historic maps (e.g. S3) and also visible as cropmarks (NHER 44894), indicating that they represent a distinct phase of activity. (An exception is a double ditch or trackway, visible between TG 4478 1729 and TG 4464 1739, which could be a continuation of the possibly Bronze Age trackway to the east, part of NHER 27331).
S. Tremlett (NMP), 27 July 2006.

September 2016. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site south of Repps Road.
This survey identified a number of north-north-east to south-south-west aligned linear anomalies that coincide with the probable trackway. At least one of a number of perpendicular anomalies also corresponds with a cropmark in this group. There was however no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with the more fragmentary cropmarks recorded at this location.
See report (S4) and NHER 65557 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 May 2022.

May 2020. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site south of Repps Road.
This phase of work saw the investigation of the eastern half of the area examined by the preceding geophysical survey. The excavated trenches coincided with several cropmarks in the vicinity of TG 4488 1740, with corresponding ditches associated with at least one of the north-north-east to south-south-west aligned features. These produced two small handmade pottery sherds of possible Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date. No later material was recovered from any of the excavated ditches.
See report (S5) and NHER 65557 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 May 2022

September 2020. Excavation.
Targeted excavation at site south of Repps Road.
The final phase of work at this location prior to development saw the investigation of the pair of intersecting cropmarks at TG 4488 1741. The north-north-east to south-south-west aligned feature proved to be the later of the two and produced small quantities of Late Iron Age and undiagnostic Late Prehistoric pottery. Although the these sherds were all small and abraded the lack of any later finds from the site was again notable.
The earlier ditch had more of a north-east to south-west orientation, suggesting that it was potentially associated with the similarly-aligned group of cropmarks recorded to the south east (NHER 27331), which were regarded as potentially representing an earlier phase of activity. This feature produced a single flint flake of probable Bronze Age/Iron Age date.
See report (S6) and NHER 65557 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 May 2022.