NHER 27240 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of possible late prehistoric enclosure complex

February 2005. Norfolk NMP.
Cropmarks of an undated possibly late prehistoric, trapezoidal enclosure and attached enclosure complex are visible on aerial photographs (S1-6). These cropmarks are centred on TG 3306 3074 and were previously recorded as part of NHER 7025 (context 1).

A trapezoidal enclosure is located at TG 3399 3072. It has external dimensions of 82m by 75m with a ditch of up to 2m wide. A 14m wide gap in the ditch is visible on the eastern side of the enclosure possibly representing an entrance. An 18m long linear ditch on the western side of the enclosure may represent an internal division. A partial ring ditch, with a 5.5m diameter, is located to the south of this ditch. It is possible that this is also related to the enclosure and could represent a structure, such as a small roundhouse.

The north side of the enclosure is continued westwards for 18m by two intermittent narrower ditches. A ditch also runs northwards from the northwest corner of the enclosure. This ditch defines a second incomplete enclosure attached to the northern side of the first. It extends for 60m and then curves to continue east for a further 88m. A second ditch extends to the northwest for 45m from the northeast corner of the enclosure. This ditch is likely to be related to the enclosure but it is not clear how. Also to the north of the enclosure is a T-shaped arrangement of two ditches that meet at TG 3294 3081. The ditch that extends eastwards from this point is aligned roughly parallel to the north side of the enclosure with the second ditch running perpendicular to it. This alignment suggests that these ditches have some relationship to the trapezoidal enclosure. However, the west to east ditch crosses the incomplete enclosure attached to the north side of the trapezoidal enclosure and must indicate several phases of activity associated with it.

Attached to the southeast corner of the trapezoidal enclosure is a curving ditch that is 4m wide at its eastern terminal. After a 3.5m wide break, possibly representing an entrance, it continues eastwards intermittently for a further 195m. A roughly north to south aligned ditch is present at its eastern end and may be related to it. A southeast to northwest aligned ditch with a east to west ditch extending from it may also be associated with this group of cropmarks.

The trapezoidal enclosure appears to be central to this group, with the ditches extending from it defining larger areas, possibly fields. The main enclosure may have had a settlement function with a possible structure represented by the incomplete ring ditch. Bronze Age features, interpreted as cremations, have been excavated immediately outside of this enclosure at TG 3303 3068 (NHER 7025 context 6). The small ditches that were noted during that excavation were not visible as cropmarks. A Bronze Age rectilinear enclosure with similar external features has also been recorded just over 1km to the northeast (NHER 29753). It is possible that the trapezoidal enclosure could also be of Bronze Age date and could represent a settlement. However, a later, possibly Roman, date need not be ruled out. These cropmarks overlap with other groups of cropmarks (NHER 38872, 27243) and their relationship to these is not clear.
(S1-6)
J. Albone (NMP), 03 February 2005