NHER 43613 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of an undated field system and pits

May 2006. Norfolk NMP.
Cropmarks of an incomplete field system and pits of unknown date are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S11). These cropmarks are centred on TM 3047 8785 and were previously recorded as part of NHER 11676. A group of intermittent linear ditch cropmarks is present. These lie on northwest to southeast and southwest to northeast alignments and appear to form part of a coaxial field system. The field system is too incomplete for the dimensions of any of its fields to be calculated although one appears to be 45m wide. The ditches of the field system overlap part of a Bronze Age barrow cemetery (NHER 43612). One of the ditches in the southwest of the group appears to respect the ring ditch and passes adjacent to it. However, two parallel ditches, which may be a trackway associated with the field system, cross directly through another ring ditch in the northeast of the group. The date of the field system is not certain. Its alignment does not correspond to that of the post medieval field pattern or to that of the triple linear ditch cropmark to its northeast (NHER 11676). It is possible that the field system is of Bronze Age date, making it broadly contemporary with the barrow cemetery. However, it is equally possible that it could be of Roman or later date. Also visible are cropmarks of a large number of pits. They vary from irregular sub-rounded shapes to rectangular in plan. Some of the smaller pits are directly associated with the round barrows and are probably graves (NHER 43612). The pits not associated with the ring ditches vary in size from 1.7m by 0.7m to 5m by 4m. It is possible that some of the pits are also graves associated with the ring ditches. However, it is more likely that the larger pits were for sand or gravel extraction. The date of the pits is unknown and they may belong to several different periods of activity. Some of the rectangular pits lie on a southwest to northeast axis similar to that of the field system and may be of the same date. Other pits appear to overlie the field system ditches.
J. Albone (NMP), 02 May 2006