NHER 27259 (Monument record) - Multi-period field systems, trackways and enclosures

17 July 1979 and 29 July 1983. NAU air photography. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED UNDER NHER 12165
Cropmarks. Linear and curvilinear cropmarks and trackway.
D. Edwards (NAU), 15 February 1981.

PREVIOUSLY RECORDED UNDER NHER 12165, RING DITCHES NOW RECORDED UNDER NHER 27343 AND 27344
St Joseph's list of photographs describes this grid reference as 'ring ditches and enclosures'; but no ring ditches visible on NAU air photographs.
E. Rose (NAU), 9 June 1981.

PREVIOUSLY RECORDED UNDER NHER 12165, RING DITCHES NOW RECORDED UNDER NHER 27343 AND 27344
Two ring ditches now visible on NAU air photographs.
E. Rose (NAU), 22 April 1985.

April 2005. Norfolk NMP.
Many of the cropmarks described below were previously recorded under NHER 12165, 18317 and NHER 12166.

An extensive complex of cropmarks, comprising field systems, trackways and enclosures, is visible on aerial photographs, (S1) to (S17), centred at TG 4886 1620. Amongst these, three phases of field system can be identified on morphological grounds (NHER 27338, 27339 and 27340), although the appearance and layout of the cropmarks suggests some overlap between the phases, perhaps with some elements of the earlier phase being retained. A double ditched enclosure (NHER 27337) has also been distinguished from the remainder of the cropmarks. In addition, many of the cropmarks are too fragmentary or irregular to assign to any particular phase. Several, which lie parallel to modern field boundaries, are probably post medieval to modern in date.

Fieldwalking, metal detecting and partial excavation (NHER 21272, 12165, 34024, 34025 and 12166) of some of the site, combined with morphological grouping of distinctive elements of the cropmarks, has allowed the main phases of activity to be dated. The earliest field system (NHER 27338), which itself overlies a probable Bronze Age barrow cemetery (NHER 27342) can be dated to the Bronze Age. A second, more rectilinear phase of field system (NHER 27339) is probably Iron Age to Roman in date. A third phase (NHER 27340), identified at the eastern end of the site and in the adjacent fields to the east (NHER 17673), is undated but seems likely to belong to the post Roman period. The enclosure (NHER 27337) is also undated but can perhaps be assigned tentatively to the Bronze Age phase.

It should be noted that a World War Two Direction Finding Station (NHER 27341) has also been identified over the central northern part of the site (albeit in an area in which few cropmarks were evident). The construction and subsequent removal of the structures associated with this site (part of which is now a meteorological station) may have caused some disturbance to the earlier archaeological features.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 22 April 2005.