NHER 36767 (Monument record) - Undated enclosures and other features

One of cropmark enclosures previously recorded under this site is now under NHER 43635 and the trackway under 43638.

28 June1996. NLA air photography.
Complex palimpsest cropmark site.
There is an extremely irregular rectangular double-ditched enclosure.
The eastern end appears to be cutting, or cut by a similar sized feature, but with rounded corners.
A large rectilinear enclosure, also with double-ditched elements, appears to overlie the smaller one, although the relationship cannot be proved from aerial evidence.
The whole section of the field is covered with intercutting and overlapping linears. At least two of these to the west form a slightly sinuous trackway.
The double-ditched enclosure may be Roman in date, the other elements of the site are too partial to offer any more detailed interpretation.
S. Massey (NLA), 17 September 2001.

THE CENTRAL POINT FOR THE SITE HAS BEEN ALTERED FROM TG 4060 2862 TO TG 4061 2861.

September 2005. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a multi-phase site consisting of a complicated network of ditched features is visible on aerial photographs to the east of Beach Road, Eccles on Sea. A possible Roman date enclosure is located within the centre of the site and has been recorded under NHER 43635. The complexity of the ditched features means that it is likely that some elements dating to the Roman period remain within this site (NHER 36767). In particular the ditch located at TG 4061 2858, which could easily fit into the pattern for both sites as it shares alignments with ditches from NHER 36767 and 43635. Other components are likely to relate to medieval and post medieval field boundaries and other agricultural features.

This site consists of a series of intercutting and overlapping linear ditches, many with slightly different alignments. The cropmarks appear to be visible within a band of gravel, surrounded by less cropmark responsive deposits or deeper soils. The presence of geological cropmarks and pockets of deeper soil within the gravels greatly confuse the archaeological features, in particular to the east of the site. Only the cropmarks that definitely appeared to be archaeological were mapped, so further manmade ditches and pits may have gone unrecognised and unrecorded. Many sinuous and dendritic features are visible and have the appearance of former channels. The archaeological features in all but the very centre of the site are heavily masked and confused by these other cropmarks and it is possible that many archaeological features may have been missed. Further archaeological work or aerial photography would be needed to phase and interpret this site adequately.

The clearest component of the site is an L-shaped double ditched feature, which may be part of an enclosure or more likely former field boundaries. The ditches are quite irregular and run into one another, suggesting recutting over time. To the north is a parallel stretch of single ditch. The Hempstead Enclosure map of 1812 (S3) shows a series of boundaries to the immediate east that are aligned slightly diagonally to the coaxial post medieval arrangement of rectangular fields. It is possible that these are the remnants of the pre-Enclosure field layout of which these cropmarks are likely to be part. The ditches visible on the aerial photographs follow the same alignment as those shown on the Enclosure map and were probably adjoining fields.

In addition to these larger ditched features the entire site is covered with parallel linear features. It seems likely that these relate to some agricultural practice associated with the earlier post medieval landuse and may reveal cultivation strips or possibly drains.
S. Massey (NMP), 31 September 2005.