NHER 44806 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of a ring ditch, probable Bronze Age round barrow

March 2005. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a ring ditch, probably the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow, are visible on aerial photographs to the north of Stalham Road, Hickling (S1-S2). The site is centred on TG 4072 2423. The round barrow is located to the east of the 5m contour, with the lower valley floor and the peat fens to the east. A second round barrow is located in a similar position approximately 230m to the southwest (NHER 44806), although this positioned nearer to the 5m contour, as is a third barrow 650m to the south (NHER 36106)

The ring ditch measures 16m in diameter and has a break in the ditch to the southeast. This ring ditch is surrounded by a series of enclosures and field boundaries (NHER 44807), which may date to the Iron Age to Roman period. The ring ditch is located to the southeast and slightly down slope of the main enclosure. There is nothing in the positioning of this ring ditch in relation to the enclosure and field boundaries cropmarks that would suggest that this is a hut circle, rather than round barrow. In fact, ditches following the dominant alignment of the site, and interpreted as being broadly the same date, appear to cut though the round barrow site.
S. Massey (NMP), 29 March 2005.