NHER 44886 (Monument record) - Multi-phase cropmarks

August 2006. Norfolk NMP.
A group of multi-period ditched cropmarks, the majority of which are probably field boundaries of unknown date, is visible on aerial photographs within the arable land in-between Burgh Road and Staithe Road, Burgh St Peter (S1-S5). The site is centred on TM 4851 9347. This record deals with all of the fragmentary unphased and undated cropmarks located in-between Burgh Road and Staithe Road in Burgh St Peter parish. The cropmarks of two possible farmsteads or small settlements of probable Iron Age and Roman date (NHER 44880-1), a pair of Bronze Age round barrows or ring ditches (NHER 44882-3), an undated field system (NHER 44913) have all been recorded separately. The cropmarks recorded under this multi-period site do not appear to fit into these phases. Without further evidence it is impossible to offer any worthwhile interpretation of most of these features. Additional aerial photograph material or archaeological excavation would be needed to investigate this area further. Metal detecting and fieldwalking near to this site has revealed evidence for activity during the Iron Age, Roman and medieval periods, see NHER 16777, 18349 and 32583 for details.

The site is quite dispersed, but there are two general concentrations of cropmarks at TM 4854 9362 and TM 4867 9325. Most of the cropmarks consist of fragmentary ditches and linear features, some of which run parallel to one another and may represent double ditched boundaries or trackway segments, such as at TM 4859 9350, where a double ditched boundary runs from an intersection of post medieval fields and is likely to be of a similar date. A boundary running to the east from this point also heads towards another post medieval field corner, again indicating that the features are related. At TM 4854 9354 is a small square enclosure, measuring 10m across (S1). This follows a similar alignment to possible enclosure and field boundaries to west that have been interpreted as being of possible late prehistoric date (NHER 44881) and it is possible that this feature is also of this date. At TM 4884 9335 is a possible ring ditch or semi-circular feature (S5), although the cropmarks are indistinct and it is possible that they are non-archaeological origin. However it is possible that this is the partial remains of a Bronze Age round barrow, as other more convincing examples are located nearby, see NHER 44882.
S. Massey (NMP), 10 August 2006.