NHER 68010 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Low earthworks of a possible rectilinear enclosure of an unknown date

January 2024. Wendling Beck and Fransham Aerial Investigation and Mapping (AIM) Project.
Sections of a possible rectilinear enclosure of an unknown date are seen as earthworks on visualised lidar data (S1). The feature consists of an earthwork bank with a possible internal ditch which may have formed part of a large rectilinear enclosure. The date of the feature is unknown. It is possible that the enclosure could date to the Bronze Age, Iron Age or Roman period. Although an early medieval to medieval date for the possible enclosure cannot be ruled out. A large amount of multi-period finds have been previously recorded from across the area (NHER 45424 and 49128). The suggested alignment of the Roman road recorded more broadly as NHER 3697 also runs through the centre of the site. The sections of bank and ditch appear to be very wide on the visualised lidar data. This may be due to the earthworks being spread by ploughing over time. The break in the bank (centred at approximately TF 8703 1470) is where the feature is cut by a modern field boundary. Further earthworks which may relate to the possible enclosure have been recorded in the adjacent field to the west (centred at approximately TF 8685 1469). It is uncertain as to whether this section of bank and ditch is archaeological, natural or modern in origin and has therefore been mapped by extent. As the lidar survey was flown relatively recently (2017) it is likely that the features still survive as very low earthworks.
J. Powell (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 10 January 2024.