NHER 49236 (Monument record) - Possible saltern mounds and an enclosure

October 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The earthworks of a small enclosure and a group of possible late Saxon to medieval date saltern mounds are visible on aerial photographs on the edge of the Belton marshes (S1). The site is centred on TG 4673 0239. These mounds are located on the edge of the former tidal estuary and it is possible that these represent mounds of salt production waste. Another group of mounds are located to the immediate east (NHER 49235). It is possible that a tidal creek fed the saltworks, as this part of the marsh would have been silted up by the medieval period. The small embanked enclosure may be associated with the saltworks, however it could also be a small stock enclosure associated with marsh grazing.

The enclosure is centred on TG 4663 0241 and measures 20m across. The bank is exceptionally wide for an enclosure of this size, up to 5m in places. It is possible that this enclosure surrounded the saltcote, where the salt production took place and the wide bank is partially made up from discarded waste material. However is this was the case then a more irregular bank profile might be expected. It is therefore possible that it represents a stick enclosure.

The mounds vary in size, up to 50m across, and shape and have a fairly amorphous plan, similar to those mound of salt production waste recorded within the Wash, although these Belton examples are much smaller in size.
S. Massey (NMP), 23 October 2006.