NHER 52089 (Monument record) - Undated cropmarks of a possible field system, trackways and pits

April 2009. Norfolk NMP.
Undated cropmarks of field system and possible trackways and pits are visible on aerial photographs (S1) –(S4) across several fields, centred on TG 2659 0727.

The majority of these features are undated, but some of them echo the field boundaries visible on the tithe map of 1844 (S4). This includes particularly the interrupted linear feature running roughly west northwest to east southeast from TG 2673 0724 to TG 2700 0719, the north-south linear feature running from TG 2675 0758 to TG2 675 0743, and a pair of ditches parallel to boundaries on the tithe maps (S5)-(S6), centred at TG 2636 0745. A roughly north-south linear ditch feature running from TG 2623 0724 to TG 2627 0707 may also represent a continuation of the linear feature visible on the tithe map in the field to the north. These features may therefore be dated tentatively to the medieval to post medieval period.

A series of roughly north-south and east-west linear features, centred on TG 2665 0746 may represent earlier field boundaries, however, and there is a possibility that the parallel linear features visible at TG 2654 0747 are part of a former trackway. A second possible trackway is visible 500km to the south as a pair of east-west ditches centred on TG 2679 0699. A number of Neolithic and prehistoric flint tools have been recovered from this area (NHER 18297 and 29069), and some of the linear features here appear to be aligned in a similar way to those at another possible prehistoric site 500m to the west (NHER 35899 and 52083), and therefore a possible late prehistoric date is suggested for some of these linear features.

Many small circular features are visible (S2) across much of the area, particularly within the field centred TG 2663 0715. The majority of these probably relate to geological solution holes, but three of the larger features (measuring up to 5.5m by 7.9m) have been mapped, as they may represent pits of an archaeological nature, although it is difficult to be certain, and they may equally relate to relatively recent small-scale extraction pits. However, a small pit excavated as a result of the watching brief for the Norwich Southern bypass (site no. 99A, NHER 29069, 18297) at around TG 2669 0748 was found to contain burnt material, and has been dated to the prehistoric period.
E. Bales (NMP), 7 April 2009.