NHER 45087 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Site of possible ring ditch of unknown date north of Boundary Farm

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Summary

A possible ring ditch of unknown date is visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs. Numerous interpretations are possible for such a feature. It could represent the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow, but it occupies a rather low-lying site, below the 5m OD contour, and is also rather small. A post Roman origin, related in some way to agriculture, is perhaps more likely; it could have defined a stack stand, for example. A second ring ditch (NHER 18335), the archaeological origin of which is more certain, lies 130m to the west.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TG41NW
Civil Parish THURNE, GREAT YARMOUTH, NORFOLK

Map

September 2006. Norfolk NMP.
A possible ring ditch is visible as a cropmark on an aerial photograph (S1), centred at TG 4053 1526. Its date and function are unknown. Like NHER 18335 130m to the west, it might represent the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow. Although it lies closer to the 5m OD contour line, its small size would suggest that a more recent, agricultural origin is more likely. It may even lie above a palaeochannel (visible as a cropmark on (S2) but not mapped), which also suggests a relatively late date for the feature. At the same time, the archaeological origin of the cropmark is far from certain; other circular marks visible nearby have not been mapped by the NMP as they probable reflect the underlying geology at the site or recent agricultural activity.

The ring ditch is sub-circular in plan and measures approximately 10m long and 8m wide. It is not known whether the break in the ditch circuit on its northeast side represents a genuine entrance or is a product of the cropmark being masked.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 28 September 2006.

  • <S1> Oblique Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1980. NHER TG 4015A (NLA 81/ANR6) 09-JUN-1980.
  • <S2> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1990. OS/90224 166-7 31-JUL-1990 (NMR).

Object Types (0)

Related NHER Records (0)

Record last edited

Mar 12 2012 4:52PM

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