NHER 29572 (Monument record) - Complex multi-phase cropmarks of enclosures, field systems, trackways and possible settlement

17 July 1986. NAU air photography (S1).
Cropmarks of rectangular enclosures and old field system.
D. Edwards.

19 June 1996. NLA air photography (S2)-(S3).
National Grid Reference amended from original centred TG 3260 2030.
Cropmarks can be seen to extend to north and west of original area.
These appear to be of a similar nature, consisting of rectilinear enclosures and trackway consistent with fields and settlement.
S. Massey (NLA), 14 August 2001.

8 July 1996. NLA air photography (S4).
Cropmarks previously recorded still visible.
In addition to this the cropmarks appear to continue into the adjacent field to the north (on the other side of the road and south of Pithole Plantation).
H. Clare (NLA), 26 September 2001.

18 July 1996. NLA air photography (S5)-(S6).
Very busy area.
Additional features may be visible as cropmarks including numerous possible circular features, which may be the remains of structures.
The underlying geology may be misleading at this point, but there is the possiblity that this is a settlement site.
M. Brennand (NLA).

June 2007. Norfolk NMP.
NMP mapping has led to the alteration of the central grid reference of the site from TG 3267 2039 to TG 3275 2030.

The cropmarks described above are visible on aerial photographs (S1)-(S7). As suggested above, they appear to represent enclosures, parts of field systems, trackways, and perhaps settlement (at least across the southern part of the site). It is clear that more than one phase of activity is represented, but the cropmarks are too complex for different phases to be separated out in a meaningful way. As with other sites in the surrounding area, such as NHER 36748 1km to the northwest, some elements may have originated in the later prehistoric period. Others, which are depicted on historic maps such as Neatishead Tithe Map (S8) or share their orientation with the modern field pattern, are almost certainly of post medieval date. The cropmarks continue to the south, where they are recorded as NHER 49299.

The most striking element of the site is a rectilinear, trapezoidal enclosure visible at TG 3278 2042. This measures 67.5m long and 59.5m wide, and has entrances at its northeast and southwest corners and along its eastern side. It is surrounded by parts of a conjoined field system or larger enclosure complex, which was presumably a contemporary feature. This includes an east-west trackway, visible between TG 3304 2019 and TG 3255 2022. An Iron Age date might be particularly appropriate for these elements of the site, but there is little evidence to support this interpretation.

Further to the south the cropmarks are less clear and may include some which are of non-archaeological origin. A number of curvilinear marks are visible, which may relate to settlement, but it is difficult to pick out anything that is definitely a ring ditch. The more rectilinear elements could belong to the same phase as the enclosure and trackway described above, or, more probably, could relate to the outer parts of Cangate House (formerly Cangate Farm). Within this area two large pit-like features are also visible; the easternmost, which is rectilinear in plan, could relate to a former building.

It should be noted that due to an inadequate number of control points, rectification of the aerial photographs was poor, and this has almost certainly had an adverse effect on the accuracy of the mapping. Furthermore, it is likely that further archaeological features are visible on the aerial photographs which have not been mapped by the NMP, as they could not be distinguished from the non-archaeological cropmarks visible at the site. Conversely, some of the mapped features may be of geological or recent agricultural origin.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 5 June 2007.