NHER 53290 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of fragmentary ditches, possible enclosure and field boundaries

December 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of fragmentary ditches, potentially representing the remains of former field boundaries and a possible enclosure of unknown date, are visible on aerial photographs to the north and east of Poringland Gravel Pits (S1-S3). The date and significance of these cropmarks is uncertain. Some are likely to represent former field boundaries, whilst others may be geological in origin. The site is centred on TG 2758 0091, although the majority of the cropmarks are located within the southern part of the site at TG 2756 0080. Additional possible cropmarks were identified within the northern part of the site, however these were omitted from the mapping due to the probability that they relate to underlying geological cropmarks.
The site consists of fragmentary ditches, probably representing the remains of former field boundaries. An L-shaped ditch at TG 2750 0077 could feasibly represent the remains of a rectangular enclosure, although this is not certain. Significant amounts of Bronze Age pottery have been recovered during works at the adjacent gravel pits, and this could feasibly indicate that some of the ditches relate to Bronze Age date activity and boundaries, but the presence of Bronze Age urns and human remains would suggest that all of this Bronze Age material relates to a burial area or the presence of a former barrow. A barrow cemetery is located approximately 300m to the north (NHER 52421).
S. Horlock (NMP), 29 December 2009.