NHER 49431 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Enclosures and field boundaries of unknown, but possibly late prehistoric to Roman date

May 2007. Norfolk NMP.
This cropmark site consists of a large and dispersed group of enclosures and former field boundaries of unknown, but possibly late prehistoric to Roman date, located to either side of the Newport Road, South Walsham (S1-S3). The site is centred on TG 3653 1210 and covers an area approximately 1.6km long and 1.2km wide.
These enclosures and fields are located to the east and southeast of another large area of enclosures and fields (NHER 49428), also aligned NW-SE and NE-SW, and this has the appearance of a small settlement. Other groups of ditches following this pattern have been identified across a wide area (NHER 18127, 49454), suggesting a once extensive agricultural landscape spreading for several kilometres. No dating evidence or associated finds currently provide a date for this vast area of cropmarks, although the morphology of the enclosures would suggest a late prehistoric to Roman date for the majority of the features.
The majority of these cropmark ditches are broadly aligned NW-SE and NE-SW and are likely to represent former field boundaries, and where double ditched, trackways. Although it is possible that cropmarks located at TG 3610 1138, within the southern part of the site, may represent a series of enclosures that had a non-agricultural function. The enclosure and pattern of subdividing ditches (S2) in this area could indicate domestic usage, although this is not certain.
S. Massey (NMP), 29 May 2007.