NHER 43794 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of possible enclosures and field boundaries of unknown, but potentially Iron Age date

June 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of possible enclosures and field boundaries of unknown, but potentially Iron Age date are visible on aerial photographs to the immediate south of Reynold’s Lane, Potter Heigham (S1-S3). The site is centred on TG 4043 2014 and is located within a larger multiphase cropmark site (NHER 43791).

The majority of the ditches are aligned NE-SW and NW-SE and are arranged in a quite regular and co-axial layout. There is a particular concentration of features at TG 4036 2014, possibly indicating an area of greater subdivision within the fields and enclosures. It is possible that this may have been for agricultural purposes, such as stock pens, or even associated with occupation.

A group of field boundaries have been recorded to the north of Reynold’s Lane (NHER 43797), which follow a similar alignment. These are undated, but a medieval to post medieval date seems most likely. Although some of these boundaries follow similar alignment to these ditches to the south of the Lane, they are more irregular and polygonal in shape and arrangement, contrasting with the more regular and rectilinear arrangement of this site. They could suggest that the two sets of cropmarks are unrelated. Another group of rectangular fields and enclosures to the east (recorded under NHER 43794) follow a similar alignment in places and it is possible that elements of the two sites are contemporary. This group of features has also been interpreted as being late prehistoric, possible Iron Age to Roman in date. It is worth noting that a north to south running ditch containing Roman pottery was excavated in reasonable proximity to these cropmarks, on the opposite side of the A149, as part of the Bacton to Great Yarmouth pipeline (NHER 34000). This north to south alignment of a known Roman ditch within this general area suggests that these ditches are either pre-Roman or post-Roman. An earlier date seems most likely given the appearance of the cropmarks.
S. Massey (NMP), 12 June 2006.