NHER 52042 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Post-medieval and undated linear cropmarks and possible pit alignments

April 2009. Norfolk NMP.
A number of linear ditches are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs (S1)-(S2), centred on TG 2912 0832, oriented largely east-west across three fields to the south of Yarmouth Road. These features appear to overlie a number of possible late Prehistoric pit alignments, and many of the features are aligned along a former palaeochannel. Pit alignments are often part of prehistoric linear boundaries, and it is also clear that these boundaries may have been formed along the edges of former river courses (S3). A watching brief for a pipeline that ran through the field did not encounter any archaeological features (NHER 29869 and 29870), as its location did not coincide with the visible cropmarks, however a number of Neolithic flints, as well as medieval and post medieval pottery sherds were recovered from the area. A Neolithic polished axehead was also recovered from the south-west of the area (NHER 21639).

A line of six pits extends for 26m between TG 2920 0834 and TG 2918 0834 on a roughly east to west alignment. Several pits and linear features lie slightly to the north and south of the main line, suggesting several phases of development, possibly related to the fluctuating river channel. The pits are sub circular in shape and measure from 0.9m to 5m in diameter. It is also possible that the pits could represent a line of uprooted trees along an undated boundary. There are, however, a significant number of geological features visible in this area, and it is also possible that some of these features may be geological, rather than archaeological, in nature.

Approximately 85m the north-west of the main concentration of sub circular pit alignments, there is a further line of three, more elongated sub rectangular pits, at TG 2910 0837, visible on a north east-south west alignment, within the line of a tributary to the former palaeochannel. This alignment extends for approximately 20m and the pits measure up to 6.9m x 1.3m individually. Pit alignments are generally considered to date to the Bronze Age, although Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age finds have also been associated with a double pit alignment, at Thornborough, North Yorkshire (S4). A late Prehistoric date for the features here is perhaps most likely, as at other comparable sites in Norfolk, such as Stiffkey (NHER 27784).

There are also a number of linear features oriented roughly north-south visible in the area, which may belong to a later phase of activity on the site. At least one of these, which runs for 100m from TG 2910 0835 to TG 2911 0824, appears to overlie the earlier, east-west linear features. These features may be related to some of those to the south (NHER 21767), as they appear to be on a similar alignment, and therefore may relate to medieval–post medieval activity.
E. Bales (NMP), 7 April 2009.

November 2012. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site of proposed extension to Postwick Park and Ride.
Fifteen of the 21 trenches excavated revealed archaeologically significant features, a number of which appear to correspond with previously identified cropmarks (NHER 52042). Unfortunately very few finds were recovered so the excavated remains were largely undated.
The extensive west-north-west to east-south-east aligned cropmarks running between TG 2895 0836 and TG 2927 0831 were both found to be associated with surviving ditches, with the more substantial southern feature producing a single sherd of Late Iron Age/Early Roman pottery. The curving cropmark to the north was also associated with a corresponding sub-surface feature, although this produced fragments of post-medieval roof tile. It is suggest that this feature at least may have been associated with a similarly-aligned former road that is shown crossing the site on Faden’s map of 1797. This section of road or track continued the line of what is now Brundall Low Road and isn’t marked on any subsequent maps.
Other features found to have surviving sub-surface remains included the north-north-east to south-south-west aligned cropmarks running between TG 2926 0814 and TG 2929 0829, although unfortunately neither produced an dating evidence. The large discrete cropmark at TG29080831 was also found to correspond with a large probable quarry pit. This also produced no finds.
It should be noted that several trenches in the western half of the field positioned to investigate linear cropmarks revealed no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains.
See report (S5) and NHER 29870 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 April 2018.

June-July and October 2014 and June 2015. Strip Map and Sample Excavation.
Excavation of three separate areas prior to construction of extension to Postwick Park and Ride.
This work exposed a number of potentially contemporary north-to-south and east-to-west aligned ditches, several of which correspond with cropmarks in this group. Although no dating evidence was recovered it appears that they at least predated the site's post-medieval features.
Several sections of the ditches associated the extensive west-north-west to east-south-east aligned cropmarks were also investigated, with both features proving to be post-medieval in date. As noted previously (see above) it is reasonably likely that these features were associated with a section of former road or track that is shown crossing this part of the site on Faden’s map of 1797.
See report (S6) and NHER 29870 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 April 2018.