NHER 53219 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of a possible Roman road

November 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a section of road or track of Roman or post-Roman date can be seen cutting across a major Roman road (NHER 53218 and 52298) on aerial photographs to the south of Dove Lane, Howe (S1-S2). The site is centred on TG 2698 0022. This relatively minor road or track cuts across the stretch of Roman road (NHER 53218) which runs across the former Poringland Heath and joins with the Roman road to Ditchingham, Stone Street, at Brooke to the southeast (NHER 52298).
The metalled or compacted road surface varies in width from 2m to 5m across and runs from TG 2690 0018 to TG 2700 0033. It is flanked on either side by a ditch. The parchmarks of the road clearly cross over the main Roman road route of NHER 53218. The point at which this more minor road crosses coincides with a narrowing of the main Roman road. This may reflect the removal of the existing road material or metalling for creating the newer road surface or it may have been done to aid the crossing of the road by the newer, narrower route.
The cropmarks and parchmarks of the two roads are showing in a similar manner. It also seems clear, given the relationship between the two roads at their intersection, that the earlier main Roman road was still reasonably extant when the second route was constructed. The later minor road shows no obvious relationship with any elements of the medieval to post medieval landscape either, which again would suggest a pre-medieval date.
The cropmarks of possible boundaries and ditches running almost perpendicular to the more minor road are extremely faint and it is possible that some may be of non-archaeological origin, in particular the broad ditch centred on TG 2698 0017.
S. Horlock (NMP), 05 November 2009.