NHER 64207 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of possible Iron Age - Roman boundary ditches

July 2021. Aylsham and Brampton Aerial Investigation and Mapping (AIM) Project.
The cropmarks of possible Iron Age- Roman boundary ditches are visible on aerial photographs (S1). A long ditch liner ditch can be seen in segments from approximately TG 1291 3226 to TG 1326 2243. The long ditch feature may be a former boundary and may date to the Iron Age- Roman period. The ditch does not seem to cross the cropmarks of the Roman road (NHER 64213) on the consulted sources and it’s unclear as to whether the ditch is cut by or respects the position of the Roman road. It is also possible that the ditch may cut the section of Roman road but may be masked by geology or the cropmarks not showing the full extent of the ditch feature. The long ditch also runs close to the cropmarks of a possible Medieval-post medieval parish boundary ditch (NHER 64206) as well as the alignment of the modern parish boundary. It could be possible that this feature may have been an earlier boundary dating to the early medieval period; however, an Iron Age- Roman date is more likely. The ditch feature to the north west (centred at TG 1280 2272) may be a continuation of the long boundary, a separate ditch feature or a natural feature. To the north and south of the long boundary (centred at approximately TG 1308 2268 and TG 1296 2247) there a number of single and double linear ditches. These may represent former field boundaries and possible trackways. These features are most likely Iron Age – Roman in date; however, a medieval date may also be possible although less likely. A large amount of geological cropmarks are visible on the consulted aerial photographs. It is possible that some of the mapped features maybe geological in origin. Finds from the Roman, medieval and post medieval periods (NHER 14708 and 55054) have been previously recorded within the vicinity of this record.
J. Powell (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 29 July 2021.