NHER 50815 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Site of possible Neolithic or Bronze Age C-shaped hengiform enclosure

January 2008. Norfolk NMP.
A possible C-shaped hengiform ditch is visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs (S1)-(S2), centred at TG 2759 1557. The feature is of a rather enigmatic type noted at other sites in Norfolk, for example Roughton (NHER 38501), and elsewhere in the eastern region, characterised by a wide, C-shaped ditch with bulbous terminals and generally found in proximity to Bronze Age round barrows (see Albone et al. 2007 (S3) for a discussion). As with the Roughton example, the bulbous terminals of the site described here suggest it represents a ‘finished’ and ‘complete’ monument, rather than just half a ring ditch. The hengiform characteristics of the site, and its relationship with probable Bronze Age ring ditches to its northwest, suggest that it represents a funerary and/or ceremonial monument of late Neolithic and/or early Bronze Age date. Its alignment with the ring ditches suggests it forms the visible southeast end of a linear barrow cemetery (NHER 50816).
The enclosure is a fairly regular ‘C’ shape in plan, describing approximately half a circle. It measures approximately 30m long and 19m wide overall. Its ‘entrance’ faces northeast, where a presumably contemporary (if genuine) pit-like feature is visible, placed more or less centrally to the enclosure entrance. This might contain a funerary or votive deposit, although it could instead be geological in origin. Similarly, the enclosure is only convincing on the BKS verticals from 1988 (S1); while visible on NLA obliques from 1996 (S2), it shows less well (partly because of the obliqueness of the shot) and is less convincing as a man-made feature.
Also see (S5)
S. Tremlett (NMP), 22 January 2008.

August 2009. Norfolk NMP.
See (S4) for a possible parallel for these types of site (Site 2, the Sarn-Y-Bryn-Caled penannular ring ditch).
S. Tremlett (NMP, 18 August 2009.