NHER 45242 (Monument record) - Site of possible Roman camp

March 2007. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks described below were previously recorded as part of NHER 30320.

A substantial, undated, square enclosure is visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs (S1), centred at TG 3425 2885. Its dimensions and its square plan with rounded corners suggest that it might represent a Roman military camp; it fits, for example, within the smaller end of the range demonstrated by Welfare and Swan’s 1995 inventory of such sites (S2). Crucially, however, it lacks the standard entrance defences typical of such sites, as illustrated in Wilson 2000 (S3); a ring-ditch-like feature at the principal entrance to the enclosure, centrally positioned along its east side (at TG 3429 2887), could be a defensive feature, similar to a double clavicula, or could merely be geological in origin. It is also not entirely regular in plan (the west side is concave, for example), which although not enough on its own to rule out a Roman military origin, does add weight to the suggestion that other interpretations might be more likely. Similarly, although internal palisades or revetments are known from other sites, such as Stanway, Essex (Wilson 1977 (S4)) its presence is an unusual feature. Alternatively, the enclosure might represent a settlement or farmstead, perhaps of Iron Age date (compare fig. 57d in (S3)) or even a site of medieval date.

Whatever its origin, the enclosure seems to have been deliberately sited on ground just above the upper reaches of the River Ant, which surrounds the whole of its western side. It is approximately square in shape, and measures 87m by 81m externally and 78m by 72m internally (within the palisade). As well as the entrance on the east side, there is a probable entrance on the west side, near the southwest corner (at TG 3422 2882), although a ditch is faintly visible within it, suggesting that it was not a permanent feature (the same may also be true of the eastern entrance). A kink halfway along the western side (at TG 3421 2884) may mark the site of a third, temporary entrance; its positioning almost opposite the eastern entrance would be typical of a Roman camp. The cropmark of a possible small, internal enclosure conjoined with the southeast corner is not entirely convincing as an archaeological feature.

The postulated camp is surrounded by a variety of other cropmarks. Some are probably contemporary features; these principally comprise conjoined linear ditches to the east, north and west which share the enclosure’s orientation. They may represent trackways and/or field boundaries, suggesting either that this was a relatively permanent establishment (ie. not a practice camp; the possible alterations to the entrances also suggest the site was relatively long-lived) or that it remained a significant feature in the landscape for a considerable period of time. A large pit-like cropmark to the west (at TG 3420 2886) may also be contemporary. Other cropmarks, visible to the east, include fragments of a possibly earlier field system (NHER 45244) and a possible second square enclosure or camp (NHER 45243). A curvilinear ditch which overlies the southwest corner of the ‘camp’ corresponds with a field boundary depicted on East Ruston Tithe Map (S5).

It should be noted that due to an inadequate number of control points, rectification of the aerial photographs was poor, and this may have had a detrimental effect on the accuracy of the mapping.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 27 March 2007.