NHER 50758 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Site of probable prehistoric enclosure or ring ditch

January 2008. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks described below were previously recorded as part of NHER 29561.

A circular enclosure or ring ditch is visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs (S1)-(S4), centred at TG 2717 1521. It is probably of Bronze Age or later prehistoric date. It lies in an area of known prehistoric activity, material of this date, including worked flints of possible Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age date, having been found in the vicinity (NHER 19345-6 and 19296-8). A probable Bronze Age linear barrow cemetery (NHER 50816) lies some 520m to its northeast. Its extremely circular shape means that it could represent a large Bronze Age round barrow or other funerary or ceremonial site, particularly given its location in an area of known funerary activity. It would be unusual, however, for such a large barrow not to have become the focus for smaller funerary monuments, yet no smaller ring ditches are visible in close proximity. The exception is a possible small ring ditch visible within it. This is not centrally located, as would be expected at a complex barrow site, but sited towards its southern side. Its small size suggests it may represent a roundhouse. Overall, the site is comparable to prehistoric settlement sites known from elsewhere in the region, such as the Late Bronze Age circular enclosures excavated at Mucking, Essex (Jones and Bond 1980 (S5)). A similar interpretation is postulated for a larger, curvilinear enclosure (NHER 29561) 50m to the southwest.

The enclosure is broadly circular in plan and measures approximately 40m in diameter. It has a possible entrance on its east side, but the cropmarks are not clear enough to tell whether it is genuine or not. Part of an inner ditch circuit is visible, ‘blocking’ the gap in the outer ditch and giving an internal space with a diameter of approximately 25m; whether this was part of the original design, a temporary feature, or of a different phase is not known. The possible small ring ditch visible towards the southern edge of the enclosure measures 11m in diameter. Some caution should be exercised in its interpretation, however, as it is only faintly visible on the aerial photographs; its southwestern side could instead be part of the larger inner ditch circuit, its northeastern side a product of the underlying geology or recent agricultural activity. The north side of the enclosure is overlain by a probably post medieval field boundary (part of NHER 50817), part of an extensive area of multi-period field systems (NHER 50811), elements of which could potentially be contemporary with any settlement here.
Also see (S6)
S. Tremlett (NMP), 23 January 2008.