NHER 49437 (Monument record) - Site of undated ring ditches, possibly stack stands

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Summary

Up to four small ring ditches, of unknown date, are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs. They might represent stack stands, and are probably of relatively late, post medieval date.

Protected Status/Designation

None recorded

Location

Map sheet	TG41SW
Civil Parish	STOKESBY WITH HERRINGBY, GREAT YARMOUTH, NORFOLK

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Full Description

May 2007. Norfolk NMP.
Up to four small ring ditches are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs (S1)-(S3), centred around TG 4242 1046. Their date and purpose is not known. They might represent stack stands, and are similar to features known from the Fens (see Riley 1946 (S4) and Silvester 1988 (S5)), where they have been ascribed a possible Roman date. A medieval date, however, has also been suggested for such features (Wilson 1978 (S6), and given their position on low-lying, reclaimed land, an even later, post medieval date seems plausible for the features described here.

The ring ditches vary in plan, from an irregular oval to an almost perfect circle, and range in diameter from 10m to 13.5m. It is possible that not all of the mapped features are archaeological in origin; the westernmost ring ditch is the least convincing of the group.
S. Tremlett (NMP), 29 May 2007.

Associated Sources (6)

<S1> SNF67515 Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF 3G/TUD/UK/70 5056-7 28-FEB-1946 (NMR).
<S2> SNF67516 Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF 106G/UK/1634 2022-3 09-JUL-1946 (NMR).
<S3> SNF67517 Vertical Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1972. OS/72056 094-5 24-MAR-1972 (NMR).
<S4> SNF61543 Article in Serial: Riley, D.N.. 1946. Groups of circles in the silt fens.. Antiquity. Vol XX, pp 150-153.
<S5> SNF8181 Article in Serial: Silvester, R. J. 1988. Settlement Earthworks at Hilgay and the Ring Ditches in the Silt Fens. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XL Part II pp 194-198.
<S6> SNF67522 Article in Serial: Wilson, D.R.. 1978. Groups of circles in the silt fens.. Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society. Vol 68, pp 43-7.