NHER 43517 (Monument record) - The cropmarks of field boundaries of unknown date

April 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a group of field boundaries of unknown definite date are visible on aerial photographs in Hopton-on-Sea (S1-S2). The site is centred on TG 5275 0131, although this point does not correspond to an archaeological feature on the ground. This site is located on the edge of two dense areas of cropmarks; an Iron Age settlement (NHER 43494) and a planned Roman field system (NHER 43495). It is not obvious from the cropmarks whether these ditches pre-date or post-date these Iron Age and Roman landscapes. The NE-SW alignment of some of the ditches is similar to that of the boundaries associated with the Iron Age to Early Roman field systems in the area (NHER 43494) and therefore may represent another phase of activity dating roughly to this period.

The northern part of the site consists of an L-shaped ditch, which could potentially be the incomplete or partially visible remains of a rectilinear enclosure with rounded corners. Although on the present evidence this can only be suggested and it may be just another field boundary.

The eastern area of cropmarks has now been built on.
S. Massey (NMP), 18 April 2006.

March 2023. Assessment of the Character and Significance of East Anglian Field Systems project.
The site described above was included in the dataset analysed for the Historic England-funded Assessment of East Anglian Field Systems project. See the project report (S3) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 22 March 2023.