NHER 54575 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of possible ditches of unknown date

February 2011. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of possible ditches of unknown date and origin are visible on aerial photographs (S1) to the southwest of Square Covert, Brettenham. The site is centred on TL 9272 8438. These possible ditches are recorded within an area of dense ‘patterned ground’ cropmarks, which are derived from sandy acidic soils filling natural ridges in the underlying chalk. Consequently it is hard to be entirely certain that these linear ditch-like cropmarks are of archaeological origin. However the fact that they appear to cut across the predominant alignment of the patterned ground in this area could suggest that they are archaeological. Finds in the area include material of Iron Age, Roman, Late Saxon and medieval to post medieval date (NHER 48976, 51085). Given the relative proximity of these possible ditches to the Roman settlement to the east (NHER 5653), a Roman date could be considered most likely. However it is also feasible, given the position of the features within the field, that they could relate to remnants of an agricultural envelope pattern from a previous crop.
S. Horlock (NMP), 02 February 2011.