NHER 49426 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of possible late prehistoric to Roman field boundaries and field systems

May 2007. Norfolk NMP.
This cropmark site consists of field boundaries of unknown, but possibly late prehistoric to Roman date, visible on aerial photographs to the south of Panxworth Carr (S1-S3). The site is centred on TG 3584 1318. A small domestic enclosure of possible Iron Age date is located within the extent of this site (NHER 18330), however this appears to be aligned in a completely different manner to these fragmentary field boundaries, which are all aligned roughly northwest-southeast and northeast-southwest. This would indicate that the two systems are not contemporary and that potentially these fields must either pre-date or post-date the Iron Age. To the south of this site is another large area of enclosures and fields (NHER 49428), also aligned northwest-southeast and northeast-southwest, and this has the appearance of a small settlement. It seems likely that the two groups of cropmarks are broadly contemporary. Other smaller groups of ditches following this pattern have tentatively been identified across a wide area (NHER 18127, 49427, 49431), suggesting a once extensive agricultural landscape spreading for several kilometres.
The main concentration of cropmarks are located at TG 3541 1310, TG 3567 1288 and TG 3605 1321. It must be noted that some of the cropmarks mapped within this area were only visible on one set of vertical photography and therefore some doubt must remain over their archaeological origin and significance. However the sharing of alignment and character with those more obvious and definite cropmarks recorded to the south (NHER 49428) would imply that these more fragmentary features also relate to underlying archaeological ditches.
S. Massey (NMP) 23 May 2007.