NHER 43515 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmark ring ditch, Hopton-on-Sea

September 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a ring ditch, probably the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow, are visible on aerial photographs in Hopton-on-Sea (S1). A small oblong enclosure may be a contemporary annex or it may be a later settlement feature. The site is centred on TG 5234 0103 and is located within an area of complex and overlapping enclosures and field boundaries, dating from the late prehistoric to the Roman period (NHER 43494-5). The ring ditch is likely to be the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow and several other round barrows have been recorded within the area (NHER 43557 and 43516). It has been suggested that these barrows form a focus for the prehistoric trackways in this area, see NHER 43501 for discussion.

A small oblong enclosure, 8.5m by 3.5m, is clearly visible (S1-S2). This appears to be conjoined to an oval ring ditch, measuring 17m by 21m, and traces of an internal concentric ditch are visible (S1). It is not completely clear from the aerial photographs whether these the oblong enclosure is an annex to the ring ditch, suggesting that the two features are broadly contemporary, or whether the oblong feature relates to the later prehistoric settlement to the immediate north (NHER 43494). The oblong enclosure is aligned the same as the ditches of the settlement, so this is a possibility. Excavation would be required to reveal the chronological sequence at this site.
S. Massey (NMP), 11 September 2006.

March 2011. Desk-based Assessment.
An archaeological desk-based assessment was carried out by Chris Birks Archaeological Services to characterise the archaeological potential within a proposed development at Gorleston Golf Club. The potential for Bronze Age sub-surface archaeological remains to survive was considered to be high.
See (S3) for details.
E. Bales (HES), 23 July 2012.