NHER 38485 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of Neolithic long barrows or mortuary enclosures

March 2004, Norfolk NMP
The cropmarks described below were previously recorded as NHER 13358.

The remains of a Neolithic long barrow or mortuary enclosure are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs taken over a number of years (S1-7), centred at TG 2204 3543. A second barrow or enclosure, of similar form and dimensions and sharing the same alignment, is visible as a cropmark 7m to its north-west. 40m to the south-east, and in alignment with the two long barrows or mortuary enclosures, the ditch of a possible oval or round barrow, also likely to date to the Neolithic period, is visible as a cropmark. The features occupy the north side of a slight knoll, between two minor tributaries of the River Bure. They lie in close proximity to a Neolithic causewayed enclosure (NHER 13358) and two further oval enclosures or barrows (NHER 38496), and the recovery of a Neolithic axe has been reported from the area (NMR TG 23 NW 18).

The long barrow or mortuary enclosure is sub-rectangular in shape, with sub-parallel sides, a narrow, rounded north-west end and a wider, relatively square south-east end. It measures 72m long and up to 24m wide, and is defined by a ditch up to 2.5m wide. There are two apparent entrances, one at the south-west corner and one along the north side. The northern entrance may have had a shallow ditch across it at some point in its history, and the variation in the width of the ditch as a whole suggests several phases of recutting. A pit in the north-east corner of the enclosure appears to be contemporary feature.

Only the south-east end of the second long barrow or enclosure is visible as a cropmark on the consulted aerial photographs, centred at TG 2199 3546. As with the enclosure to its east, its south-east end is fairly square in plan. It measures 20m wide and is visible for 35m of its length; its ditch is approximately 2m wide. No entrances or internal features are visible.

The possible oval or round barrow is centred at TG 2213 3540. It is only faintly visible on a small number of photographs, and is clearest on oblique aerial photographs from 1977 (S1). It measures 34m long and 22.5m wide. It is visible as a number of ditch segments, but there is no evidence of any entrances or that it was originally defined by an interrupted ditch. It was mapped, together with the long barrows or enclosures and the causewayed enclosure, by the Aerial Survey section of RCHME in December 1996 (S8), by whom it was described as a possible Neolithic round barrow, and consequently has been mapped as part of the Norfolk NMP. It is less convincing, however, than the other archaeological cropmarks in the area, and could be a reflection of the underlying geology.

It should be noted that a large number of linear features are visible as cropmarks on the consulted aerial photographs (S1-7). These lie both within and around the features described above and the majority appear to be post-medieval or modern in date, comprising field boundaries, field drains and other features associated with buildings (Hagon Beck Cottages) and enclosures visible on historic maps (S9). It is possible, however, that other features associated with the Neolithic barrows or enclosures lie unrecognised within this group of later features.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 11 March 2004