NHER 11716 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Probable post-medieval quarry pit (initially identified as a possible Bronze Age ring ditch)

Ring ditch opposite Coverhill Plantation.
Checked by E. Rose (NAU), 20 October 1976.
Information from record card (S1).

April 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The presence of the previously identified ring ditch on the oblique aerial photograph (S2) cannot be confirmed due to the drawing on of the potential feature in pencil, obscuring the underlying cropmarks. However a slightly irregular ring ditch can be identified on visible on aerial photographs (S3). The interior of the ditch appears to be lighter, perhaps indicating the former presence of a mound or barrow. However the interior has a slightly mottled appearance in the centre, more characteristic of geological cropmarks or perhaps an artificially unfilled feature, such as a pit. These factors, combined with the fact that the area of the cropmarks looks slightly sunken and sloped in 1988 (S4) could suggest that this does not represent the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow. However given the uncertainty the cropmarks were included within the NMP mapping.
S. Horlock (NMP), 23 April 2009.

February 2023. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potential impact of proposed development at site to west of Ipswich Road.
This study identified that the site of this ring-ditch coincides with a deep semi-circular depression marked on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25-inch map (S5). This was most likely the remains of a quarry pit, perhaps one dug to provide ballast during the construction of the adjacent railway line. It is noted that this feature is visible as a circular depression on recent LiDAR imagery and was also identified during a site visit undertaken as part of the study.
See report (S6) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 26 March 2024.

October-November 2023. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site to west of Ipswich Road.
Three of the excavated trenches were positioned to investigate this large circular cropmark. The work confirmed the presence of a large circular depression, the fill of which contained a significant amount of modern debris, including Victorian drainpipe, steel reinforcing bar and tarmac. Although described as a probable natural hollow it remains most likely that this was an infilled quarry pit.
See report (S7) and NHER 68179 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 26 March 2024.