NHER 53484 (Cropmark and Earthwork) - Cropmarks of field boundaries of probable medieval to post medieval date

May 2010. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of field boundaries and a possible enclosure or field of probable medieval to post medieval date are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S2). The site is centred on TG 1468 1517 and finds in the area include Roman and medieval date material (NHER 33086). The date of the ditches is uncertain, although an Iron Age to Roman date is also a possibility, although relationship with post medieval field boundaries would suggest that the later date is most likely.
The line of one of the cropmark ditches broadly follows the line of a field boundary depicted on the 1837 Tithe map (S3). Although it does differ slightly from the post medieval field boundary, it must be assumed that they relate to the same feature - feasibly the cropmark could relate to an earlier boundary that was incorporated and tidied up. The medieval finds in the area could indicate a medieval to post medieval date to the cropmarks and the ‘enclosure’ may merely represent a medieval to post medieval field. Although it is also possible given the Roman finds in the area (NHER 33086) and the Roman site to the south (NHER 50602) that some or all of the cropmarks are Roman in date. This interpretation would also work well with the morphology of the site. See NHER 53485 for fragmentary ditches and field boundaries in this area that are likely to be pre-medieval in date.
S. Horlock (NMP), 07 May 2010.