NHER 52060 (Cropmark and Earthwork) - Cropmarks of undated linear features and possible pits

April 2009. Norfolk NMP.
Cropmarks of undated linear features, perhaps of more than one phase, and possible pit features are visible on aerial photographs (S1)-(S2) to the north-west of Park Farm, Bixley.
The site is centred on TG 2548 0551, and is divided by the north-south line of Bungay Road. It is possible that these cropmarks are those previously recorded as NHER 9679, although they are not situated in exactly the same place, and are rather more extensive.

The visible features consist of two roughly parallel north-south ditches, the longest of which measures 102m, roughly 70m apart. The eastern-most of these ditches appears to overlie an east-west orientated ditch that runs from TG 2548 0547 to TG 2543 0546 and may represent part of an earlier phase. The western-most of the ditches appears to have a north east-south west oriented off-shoot, which may represent an earlier or later phase, but may equally be a contemporary feature.

Most of the other linear features exhibit a roughly east-west alignment, although there are several fragmentary features to the east of the site which are aligned in various ways, and it is difficult to be clear of their origin. Similarly, there are a number of possible pit features visible on the site, varying in diameter from 1.3m to 2.9m, which may be archaeological in nature, but could equally represent natural geological features such as solution hollows.

Roman and medieval finds have been recovered from the vicinity, so it seems most likely that these features represent fragments of field boundaries from the Iron Age to Roman period, or the Medieval to Post Medieval period. Fragments of at least two of the linear features coincide with field boundaries shown on the Tithe Map of 1805, and as such are most likely to represent medieval to post medieval activity.
E. Bales (NMP), 7 April 2009.