NHER 44981 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of probable Iron Age to Roman date enclosure

August 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a small Iron Age to Roman date enclosure are visible on aerial photographs to the north of Burgh Road, Wheatacre (S1). The enclosure is centred on TM 4701 9456 and is located within an area of enclosures, fields and trackways that has several phases of enclosure from the Iron Age onwards (NHER 44983-4). This enclosure may represent one of the earliest components of this site and some of the surrounding enclosures and fields (NHER 44983) follow the same alignment as the main enclosure. This enclosure is then possibly incorporated into a system of fields and trackways, some of which follow the same alignment, although the focus is to the southwest (NHER 44984). Although the exact sequence is not known largely due to the nature of the cropmark evidence.

The enclosure measures potentially 50m by 43m internally, although the southwestern boundary of the enclosure is not visible, the ditches vary in width from 1-3m. The enclosure is an unusual shape; the western half is extremely regular with straight ditches, whereas the eastern half is quite irregular and the ditches bulge outwards. Two clearly defined entrances are visible, one to the northeast consisting of two parallel ditch segments projecting out from the enclosure ditch, the other to the southeast, which consists of two opposed inverted ditch segments, one leading into the interior of the enclosure and another to the exterior. The outwards projecting ditch is considerably wider, up to 4m across at this point. To immediate east of this entrance is a pair of parallel ditches that line up with the opening. It is possible that these represent an associated and contemporary feature, although they may also be part of the fields that surround the site (NHER 44983). These cropmarks appear to represent two phases of enclosure that have developed from one another, so it probable that elements of the earliest site have been incorporated into the later.
S. Massey (NMP), 18 August 2006.