NHER 38250 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Undated pits

June 2003. Norfolk NMP.
A group of elongated pits visible on RAF aerial photographs from 1946 (S1). The majority of these form a linear arrangement running in two lines from TG 1417 4138 to TG 1416 4134. The pits of eastern line are quite elongated and parallel, measuring from 3 to 6m by 1 to 1.5m. These appear to be situated along the edge of the face of the pit. Approximately 5m to the west, actually on the slope of the pit, is the second line of pits. This are generally more rounded and measure approximately 1 to 2m across. A third line of pits are visible cut into the quarry floor, centred on TG 1415 4137. These are of comparable size and shape as the pits along the top edge.
The date and function of these linear hollows and pits is not clear. It is possible that they are post medieval features related to the extraction chalk. However, they do not seem to relate to any extractive process as such. Also the pits on the floor of the quarry seem to be into an already disused working surface. Another possibility is that these features are the remains of some sort of military digging activity. Although they do not appear to conform to any usual military design and more importantly they do not look recent and fresh enough on the April 1946 RAF aerial photographs (S1). The features do look reasonably recent, so it seems likely that are late post medieval or modern in date, with an unknown function.
S. Massey (NMP), 18 June 2003.