NHER 65077 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of road, possible trackway, enclosure and field boundaries of probable Roman date

THE CROPMARKS DETAILED BELOW WERE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED UNDER NHER 28450.

15 July 1986 and 5 July 1989. NAU aerial photography.
Cropmarks of trackway, other linear features and enclosures.
Previously recorded under NHER 28450.
D. Edwards (NLA), 1993. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 12 June 2021.

July 2001. Norfolk NMP.
Within the northwestern area of the site is an approximately east to west aligned double ditched drove road or track. To the north of this feature is a sub-rectangular to irregular enclosure (TF 6769 3383) with pit-like anomalies within it, which may be pits, kilns or furnaces (S1). The difference in alignment suggests the enclosure and the drove road may not actually be contemporary. There is a square enclosure or corral attached to the southern ditch of the drove road. To the south is an ephemeral, small, sub-rounded enclosure (TF 6770 3380) and numerous curvi-linear features. These appear to be overlain by a series of rectangular fields or enclosures, aligned in an approximate east to west direction (S1). The fields are arranged in a ladder-like formation and appear to be bounded to the east and west by extensive ditches. Within the southern part of the area are a series of pit-like anomalies which may be the remains of kilns or furnaces.
The eastern area of the site is crossed by a major south-west to north-east aligned road (S2), with an intersection or crossroads towards the east. There are narrower roads leading from it in approximate north and south directions. The feature is similar the other cropmark droveways in this area, but a distinct parch mark on the line of the road suggests either a trampled and compacted subsoil or some form of laid road surface is present. The likely western route of this track is across the south-western corner of the site and towards site NHER 26626. The likely eastern route is towards site NHER 26634, where a similar feature is visible. To the south of the road are a series of single ditches, three of which form a partial enclosure or field (S2). Within the enclosure is a possible circle of small pits or postholes that may mark the site of a circular structure. However there is no sign of an eavesdrip gully surrounding the posts, nor did the geophysical survey (1980’s) detect this feature. A series of sub-rounded anomalies to the north of the road are likely to represent the sites of kilns.
The majority of these features are likely to date from the Roman period, and form part of an extensive settlement within the Ingol valley. The presence of the surfaced road and rich assemblage of finds would suggest a prosperous settlement with long distance trade contacts and industrial activities.
Previously recorded under NHER 28450.
M. Brennand (NMP), 8 July 2001. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 12 June 2021.

August 2018. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site to north of Poppyfields Drive.
The westernmost part of the area examined coincided with a number of cropmarks recorded in the vicnity of TF 6779 3382, none of which were associated with evidence for surviving sub-surface remains.
See NHER 65078 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 12 June 2021.

June-July 2019. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site to north of Poppyfields Drive.
Several of the excavated trenches coincided with cropmarks at the northern end of this group including the possible double-ditched trackway running between TF 6767 3381 and TF 6781 3385. Despite the negative results of the geophysical survey both cropmarks were found to be associated with surviving ditches, although unfortunately no dating evidence was recovered. An east-to-west aligned linear feature immediately to the south was also potentially associated with one of the cropmarks. This produced a single brick of late post-medieval/modern date.
See NHER 65078 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 12 June 2021.