NHER 49465 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmark enclosures and field boundaries of unknown, but possibly late prehistoric to Roman date

May 2007. Norfolk NMP.
This cropmark site consists of small group of enclosures and former field boundaries of unknown, but possibly late prehistoric to Roman date, visible on aerial photographs to the north of Belt Plantation, Burlington Hall (S1-S2). The site is centred on TG 3723 1074.
The majority of these cropmark ditches are broadly aligned NW-SE and NE-SW. A number of these are likely to represent former field boundaries, and where double ditched, trackways. A possible rectilinear enclosure may be located within the western part of the site, measuring approximately 60m by 40m (S1). However the cropmarks recorded from the 1946 aerial photographs (S1) are much fainter and the photos of much poorer quality, than those recorded from the 1990 aerial photographs (S2) and therefore it is possible that the western elements of this site (that recorded from the earlier images) may be of less reliable archaeological origin.
These features are located to the southeast of several large areas of enclosures and fields (such as NHER 49431, 49454), also aligned NW-SE and NE-SW, and this has the appearance of a small settlement. Other groups of ditches following this pattern have been identified across a wide area (NHER 18127, 49454), suggesting a once extensive agricultural landscape spreading for several kilometres. Similarly aligned field boundaries to the south (NHER 49463) were possibly associated with finds of an Iron Age and Roman date.
A number of ditches, not aligned NW-SE or NE-SW, have been recorded within this site. These are likely to be of different and unknown date.
S. Massey (NMP), 29 May 2007.

February 2018. Strip Map and Sample Excavation.
The stripping of a narrow easement for a new water pipeline immediately to the east of this cropmark group revealed no archaeologically-significant features or deposits.
See report (S3) and NHER 64439 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 August 2020.