NHER 52083 (Monument record) - Undated cropmarks of field system and possible trackways and pits

April 2009. Norfolk NMP.
Cropmarks of many linear features and some possible pits were visible on aerial photographs (S1) centred at TG 2587 0748, perhaps relating to field boundaries and more than one possible trackway.
The majority of the linear features seem to run north-south, and are bounded in the south by an east-west ditch which runs from TG 2599 0739 to TG 2581 0738. There are at least two pairs of parallel double ditches, one on a north-south alignment from TG 2592 0746 to TG 2594 0738, and a second on a north northeast-south southwest alignment, which meets the former at TG 2593 0743. A third possible pair of ditches is faintly visible running from TG 2597 0747 to TG 2599 0739. They are situated in an area from which a substantial number of Neolithic and late prehistoric flint tools, as well as some Roman, medieval and post medieval pottery sherds were recovered by field walking (NHER 35899). It may be that the two possible trackways on a more north-south alignment are visible as a continuation in the field to the north, albeit fragmentary, commencing at TG 2589 0758 and TG 2595 0760.

A number of pit features were also visible in the area, the majority of which may not be archaeological, as they look more like solution holes perhaps caused where the underlying superficial geology changes, on the edge of the diamicton as it meets the sand and gravel, and have therefore not been mapped for the mostpart, although several of the larger and more convincing pit features have been recorded, centred at TG 2592 0739 and TG 2592 0745. A possible circular ditch feature, measuring 5.3m in diameter, with an oval pit feature in the centre, measuring 1.9m by 0.7m was recorded at TG 2592 0744, although this feature may also be geological in nature. In the field to the north, an area of at least 8 pits, which appear to be located in pairs, runs east west, centred at TG 2599 0760. These may also relate to the underlying geology, or may perhaps be recent agricultural or gravel extraction pits, and have been mapped as an extent of area. They appear to measure between 2 and 3m in diameter, and may be a result of small-scale extraction in the field, however, since a large quantity of prehistoric flint material was recovered from the field to the south (NHER 35899) it is possible that these features may be prehistoric in date. The fact that all the above features were only visible on one set of photographs, however means that they have been recorded with a note of caution. A blurred and rather less convincing linear ditch is visible from TG 2566 0740 to TG 2564 0733, also only on one set of photographs (S2), but has been recorded with these features as it shares an alignment with the north northeast-south southwest features described above.
E. Bales (NMP), 7 April 2009.