NHER 38674 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmark of enclosure of unknown date

July 2004, Norfolk NMP.
A D-shaped enclosure is visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs (S1-2), centred at TG 2133 3864. A number of linear ditches which may or may not be associated with the enclosure are also visible on the same aerial photographs. The date and function of the site is unknown. Given its proximity to other prehistoric ceremonial and funerary monuments, such as the round barrows on Roughton Heath, its tentative interpretation as a Neolithic mortuary enclosure seems plausible. Morphologically its elongated D shape bears some similarity to such enclosures. Long barrows or mortuary enclosures of this date have been identified 2-3km to the south (e.g. NHER 38474), further down the Hagon Beck valley and close to a probable Neolithic causewayed enclosure (NHER 13358) and cursus (NHER 18190). It is notable that the enclosure shares the same north-east to south-west alignment as both the cursus and mortuary enclosure/long barrow NHER 38474. A later date and/or a more utilitarian function, however, are equally plausible. At the same time, the enclosure and surrounding linear ditches do appear to pre-date the post-medieval pattern of enclosure depicted on historic maps (S3-4).

For most of its circuit the enclosure is defined by a relatively broad external ditch and narrow internal ditch. Traces of a possible bank between the ditches are visible at its western corner. It measures approximately 20m long and 16m wide. Traces of what may be a central ditch partitioning the enclosure longitudinally are just visible. A break in the outer ditch on the north-west side of the enclosure may be a genuine causeway, albeit one apparently blocked by the internal bank and ditch.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 1 July 2004.