NHER 43516 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmark ring ditch

September 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a ring ditch, probably the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow, are visible on aerial photographs in Hopton-on-Sea (S1). The site is centred on TG 5230 0134. This ring ditch is located within an area of complex and overlapping enclosures and field boundaries, dating from the late prehistoric to the Roman period (NHER 43494-5). Excavation would be essential to properly understand the chronological sequence of the cropmarks in this area.

The ring ditch is 13m in diameter and the southeastern arc is not visible on the aerial photographs, potentially masked by geological cropmarks. The cropmarks are extremely faint and it is possible that the entire feature is geological in origin. The size of the ring ditch would be within the normal ranges for both a small round barrow and a prehistoric hut eavesdrip gully. The positioning of the feature immediately next to the main trackway and seemingly outside of the main enclosures (NHER 43494) would suggest that it is not associated with the earlier settlement and a ditch from the later Roman enclosures appears cut across the ring ditch (NHER 43495). This feature is also noticeable larger than the other ring ditches, interpreted as the remains of huts, in this area. It is therefore more likely that the ring ditch represents a Bronze Age round barrow. Other possible round barrows have been recorded within the area (NHER 43515 and 43557). It has been suggested that these barrows form a focus for the prehistoric trackways in this area, see NHER 43501 for discussion.
S. Massey (NMP), 11 September 2006.

September 2023. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site to east of A47 and south of Masons Farm.
This survey identified no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with this ring-ditch.
See NHER 60543 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 31 August 2024.

October 2023. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site to east of A47 and south of Masons Farm.
Two trenches were positioned to coincide with this ring-ditch, one of which revealed a ditch that coincided with its western side. The second trench intersected with its northern side and the apparent gap to the south but revealed no corresponding remains. The excavated ditch produced no dating evidence. Several discrete features uncovered within its interior were also undated, although a sample from one did produce a small amount of hammerscale from ironworking.
See NHER 60543 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 31 August 2024.