NHER 50650 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of a small square-ditched enclosure

This site was previously recorded under NHER 17657.

October 2007. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a small square-ditched enclosure of unknown definite date, potentially the remains of an Iron Age to Roman date funerary monument, are visible on aerial photographs to the northeast of Morton village (S1-S2). The site is centred on TG 1244 1708. Another possible square ditched enclosure is located approximately 430m to the west (NHER 50651), although this may represent a fragment of a system of boundaries.

The enclosure measures 11.5m across. Similarly sized enclosures visible on aerial photographs have tentatively interpreted as being the possible remains of Iron Age or Roman funerary enclosures or square barrows (S3), although this is not certain. A common association of these square cropmarks with round barrows has also been identified. The enclosure is aligned on the cardinal points and as such compares well with those small square enclosures excavated at Caister St Edmund (NHER 9794) and Trowse (NHER 9589). These were interpreted as possibly being late Iron Age to Roman date funerary monuments associated with a cremation tradition, rather than the traditionally conceived Iron Age square barrows (S3). This possible square enclosure is located within the area of a Bronze Age round barrow cemetery (NHER 50648) and is to the immediate south (c. 3m) of ring ditch NHER 17657. It is therefore feasible that this enclosure is Bronze Age in date and may represent some sort of mortuary enclosure.
S. Massey (NMP), 31 October 2007.

February-March 2017. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on possible route of Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm onshore cable.
This survey identified no evidence for surviving remains associated with this cropmark.
Information from draft report. See NHER 66314 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 19 February 2025.