NHER 45032 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Pair of prehistoric ring ditches

1977-1980. Aerial Photography and Air Photo Interpretation.
Identified in Norfolk Archaeological Unit aerial reconnaissance (S4).
Cropmarks of several ring ditches (NHER 49687, NHER 45032, NHER 45028, NHER 45029, NHER 45030), enclosures (NHER 45018) and possible Roman temple (NHER 45036).
These features were originally recorded under NHER 12137, but were separated into the records noted above in 2006. This record now details the Roman Temple.
A crop mark plot was compiled for this area ( See drawing (S5) and slide (S6)), and and was published in East Anglian Archaeology (S7) to accompany a summary of the site.
Information is recorded in HER Record Card for NHER 12137 (S1) and is repeated in Ordnance Survey Record Cards (S2) and HER Record Notes (S3).
Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 14 January 2025.

July 2001. Air Photo Interpretation.
Examination of NLA air photography dated 02 July 1996 (S8).
Cropmarks of three ring ditches (NHER 45032), Roman temple site (NHER 45036) and rectilinear enclosures (NHER 45018) all still visible. Large example double ringed hengiform monument.
These features were previously recorded under NHER 12137.
S. Massey (NLA), 23 July 2001. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 14 January 2025.

September 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of two large ring ditches, possibly the remains of late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age hengiform monuments or round barrows, are visible on aerial photographs to the north of Aldeby Vicarage (S9-S11). The site is centred on TM 4525 9385. These ceremonial monuments appear to form the focus of a round barrow group (NHER 45028-30), see NHER 49687 for details. These monuments are located just above the 10m contour on land overlooking a tributary valley running north from the main Waveney Valley.

The southern monument is centred on TM 4525 9383 and consists of a polygonal or sub-circular outer ring ditch, 45m in diameter and 2m wide. The inner ring is again slightly polygonal and is of unusual dimensions, with a 5m broad ditch forming a ring with an external diameter of 18m and an internal diameter of 8m. The edges of this ring produce a clearer cropmark response (S10) and it is possible that these were deeper than the remainder of the ditch. Although no trace of entrance or bank are visible, the exaggerated width of the inner ditch could suggest that this is not the remains of a normal round barrow and it is possible that it represents an earlier ceremonial site such as a hengiform monument, potentially dating to the late Neolithic.

The northern monument is centred on TM 4525 9388 and is 36m in diameter, with a 1.5-2.5m wide. This ring ditch is more circular than the southern example, although the northeastern segment of the ring is flattened or straightened. A 2.5m wide break in the ring is visible to the northwest. This monument may also have an inner ring ditch (S12), although the cropmarks are not exceptionally clear and may be partially geological in origin. The possible inner ring is incomplete and sub-circular, 11-12m across.
S. Massey (NMP), 01 September 2006.