NHER 53475 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Site of multi-phase boundary ditches, including probable field boundaries, trackways and possibly fragments of enclosures

April 2010. Norfolk NMP.
Some of the cropmarks described below may correlate with some of those previously recorded as part of NHER 9584. The linear feature previously recorded as part of NHER 15769 is also now incorporated into the site described below.
Boundary ditches are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs (S1)-(S11), centred at TG 2315 0521. These are likely to represent several phases of field boundaries, trackways and, possibly, fragments of enclosures and even settlement, potentially ranging in date from the Neolithic to the post medieval period. Unfortunately, while several phases of activity are apparent, the cropmarks are not coherent enough to allow distinct phase plans to be defined or for individual elements to be given a specific date.
At their northern edge the cropmarks overlie those of a substantial double concentric ring ditch (NHER 9582) and adjacent D-shaped enclosure (NHER 9583), both of probable earlier prehistoric (Neolithic to Bronze Age) date. While the majority of the ditches are likely to post-date these features, some appear to show a relationship with them (the D-shaped enclosure in particular) and may be contemporary or even earlier than them (although this seems unlikely), or at least constructed while the earlier monuments still survived as earthworks. Some of the cropmarks share the orientation of multi-phase cropmarks recorded immediately to the south (NHER 52325), some of which are thought to represent a possible farmstead or settlement of Roman date (NHER 52327), while others are thought to be of Saxon to post medieval date (NHER 52326). The former exhibit a dominant northwest to southeast orientation, shared by many of the cropmarks across the western and central portion of the site described here; these include a possible ring ditch, perhaps a roundhouse, at TG 2303 0514, which may indicate settlement of Iron Age to Roman period date. The Saxon to post medieval cropmarks exhibit a dominant east-west alignment, shared by many of the cropmarks across the eastern part of the site described here. It is also shared by a trapezoidal enclosure at the centre of the site (NHER 15769) with which at least one ditch appears to be conjoined, while others follow its orientation. A few of the cropmarks – straight linear ditches, visible for some considerable length, and which appear to cut across all the other features - have the appearance of relatively recent, post medieval field boundaries. Part of one of these probably corresponds to the undated ditch (Ditch 41) excavated in advance of the construction of the Southern Bypass (S12).
S. Tremlett (NMP), 13 April 2010.