NHER 21766 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of multiple undated ring ditches

15 June 1976.
At this approximate location 'Cropmarks' were noted on Cambridge University Committee for Aerial Photographs' list of aerial photographs.
E. Rose (NAU), 9 October 1985.

27 November 1985.
Cambridge University Committee for Aerial Photographs reference numbers BXH 32 and 33 examined by D. Edwards.
Reported cropmarks mentioned above were found to be of one ring ditch at corrected NGR.
D. Edwards (NAU), 6 December 1985

Confirmed large ring ditch.
See secondary file.
E. Rose (NAU), 28 August 1987.

October 1994-March 1995. Systematic Fieldwalking Survey.
Fieldwalking in advance of development (Field D).
The area around the previously recorded cropmark ring ditch yielded few prehistoric finds.
See NHER 31109 and report (S10) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S11).
P. Watkins (HES), 20 March 2017.

14 June 1996. NLA air photography.
Cropmarks show previously identified ring ditch, which is very large and has a wide causeway to the southeast, indicating it may be a hengiform monument/ring ditch. To the north of this is another, smaller, ring ditch. A third ring ditch may exist between these two, however the cropmark is very ephemeral. Two linear features can also be seen, these may be part of a rectilinear enclosure, possibly a field (see NHER 52038).
S. Massey (NLA), 8 August 2001.

April 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The three ring ditches described above are visible on aerial photographs (S1)-(S9), centred at TG 2873 0870.
The largest of these, and the first to be recorded, is centred on TG 2870 0868. It measures approximately 28m in internal diameter, and the ‘hengiform’ ditch, which exhibits a wide causeway or possible entrance (approximately 11.8m), varies in width from 1.1m to 3.4m. It appears to contain a possible central pit (visible on S2-S4), of approximately 9m x 12m.

To the east, a second ring ditch was visible, with a slightly more oval form, measuring approximately 23m x 17m in internal diameter. Its cropmark is slightly more ephemeral than those either side, and the ditch slightly narrower than that to its left (approximately 1.5m in width) but it is still clearly visible on the most recent aerial photographs (S9).

16m to the north-east, a third ring ditch is visible, measuring 13m in internal diameter. The ditch measures approximately 1.5m in width, and is circular in form, with a 4m wide causeway or possible entrance located on its southeast side.

All three of these features appear likely to represent Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age funerary monuments, and their location, on the brow of a low promontory overlooking the Yare valley, in the vicinity of another possible Bronze Age ring ditch just over 500m to the east (NHER 52036), would seem to corroborate this theory.
E. Bales (NMP), 03 April 2009.

July 2018. Geophysical Survey.
This magnetometer survey of a proposed development site immediately west of the roundabout identified a circular anomaly that clearly corresponds with the westernmost cropmark in this group. Although the cropmark suggests this feature may have a gap in its south-west side, the geophysical evidence suggests a more complete circuit, although the strength and width of the anomalies varies. Two small gaps are also present in the southern portion of the ring-ditch that potentially indicate the presence of narrow breaks in its circuit. A strong discrete negative anomaly that coincides with the ring-ditch may represent a patch of in-situ burning. Five small discrete anomalies within the ring-ditch may also represent archaeologically-significant remains, though none of these responses appear to be related to the large discrete cropmark recorded at this location.
See NHER 69298 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 September 2025.

June 2024. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site immediately west of roundabout.
Two of the excavated trenches were placed to coincide with the westernmost the circular cropmark – which had been shown by the preceding geophysical survey to be associated with a surviving ring-ditch. Three corresponding ditch segments were uncovered, although unfortunately the two excavated produced no dating evidence. A small pit containing a relatively undisturbed unurned cremation burial was though uncovered within the interior of the ring-ditch. It is therefore highly likely that this ring-ditch represents the remains of an Early Bronze Age barrow monument.
There was again no evidence for sub-surface remains associated with the large discrete cropmark mapped within the ring-ditch.
See NHER 69298 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 September 2025.