NHER 52441 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of probable Neolithic long barrow and Bronze Age round barrow

November 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a possible Neolithic mortuary enclosure or long barrow, with a Bronze Age round barrow seemingly constructed on top and/or within the interior, are visible on aerial photographs to the east of Newarch Lane, Framingham Pigot (S1). The site is centred on TG 2810 0415 and is located on the lower reaches of a valleyside overlooking a minor watercourse, The Beck, a tributary of the River Yare, to the southeast. Two Neolithic flint axes and an adze were found approximately 900m to the east and southeast of the site (NHER 9881 &13223). Prehistoric flints and potboilers (NHER 28992, 28994 & 30308) have also been recovered from the wider vicinity of the site. An Early Bronze Age barbed and tanged arrow head was also found approximately 650m away (NHER 17768).
The possible mortuary enclosure or long barrow is sub-rectangular in shape, has round corners, and measures 60m by 19.5m. The cropmarks offer no suggestion that a central mound was ever constructed within this rectangular ditched enclosure, to form a long barrow, however it is likely that it has been eroded and spread by the plough significantly enough for no cropmark to form. However the fact that a ring ditch, assumed to be the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow, is so clearly apparent within the interior of the enclosure, would suggest that no mound was ever present or rather no substantial mound was present by the Bronze Age. The ring ditch is centred on TG 2809 0415 and measuring approximately 16.5m in diameter.
It must be noted that the area of site is covered by various linear and irregular geological cropmarks and it is therefore possible that some elements of these natural cropmarks have distorted the apparent appearance of the enclosure and ring ditch. Whilst the elements mapped would appear to be archaeological in origin, an element of doubt must remain.
S. Horlock (NMP), 03 November 2009.