NHER 26616 (Monument record) - Probable post medieval salt evaporation tanks

August 2001. Norfolk NMP.
The features are situated on the coastal saltmarsh between two phases of sea bank construction (S1). The larger anomaly is an irregular, linear feature, aligned in an approximate north to south direction, with a length of 250m (TF 6538 3471 to 6528 3448). This is probably actually formed by multiple re-cut pits, as the angled edges appear to depict. There are four distinct, rectangular pits to the immediate west.
The pits may be associated with the filtration of mould or evaporation of seawater during salt extraction. They may equally simply be extraction pits, although the multiple re-cutting of the features is curious. There are curiously no mounds of waste that are often associated with salt production, although this material may have been utilised in a sea defence structures. The features are probably too large and extensive to be artificial shell fish beds. The eastern sea defence bank (NHER 26617) was constructed prior to 1794 and the features are likely to post-date that feature. The western bank (NHER 26638) was probably constructed in the second half of the nineteenth century and a period of use between these two dates is likely, although there is no reason why they could not have been used after the sea wall to the west had been built
M. Brennand (NMP), 8 August 2001.