NHER 27969 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Possible prehistoric cropmarks of ring ditch/linear feature and ?enclosure

May 2003. NMP.
A series of undated but possibly prehistoric anomalies including a ring ditch, linear features and a dubious enclosure, visible as cropmarks on 1977 Norfolk Landscape Archaeology oblique aerial photographs.
The linear features appear to be on two distinct alignments (S1) and at least two phases of land division are evident within this site. There are a series of fragmentary linear features aligned in north-west to south-east and north-east to south-west directions, which almost certainly represent the traces of a field system. There is a possible sub-rectangular enclosure at TF 6455 1516, on the same alignment, although this feature is visible as an indistinct, partially reversed cropmark, and it may not be archaeological at all. The other set of linear features are aligned in north to south and east to west directions, and are possibly a continuation of the system within NHER 27964, to the east. There is also a fragmentary sub-rounded ring ditch at TF 6466 1515, with a maximum diameter of 16m.
These cropmarks are not as dense as within NHER 27964, to the immediate east, which may suggest either incomparable crop conditions or the settlement and activity was not as dense within this area. It might be suggested that the ring ditch is the earliest feature within this sequence, and is probably prehistoric in date. This may be followed by the north-west to south-east orientated fields, followed by the north to south aligned fields. Finds within NHER 27964 might possibly suggest that this alignment dates from the Roman period.
M. Brennand (NMP) 12 May 2003.