NHER 50872 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of field boundaries and enclosures of unknown, but possibly late prehistoric to Roman date

March 2008. Norfolk NMP.
A group of fragmentary cropmarks, possibly relating to former enclosures and field boundaries of unknown, but possibly late prehistoric to Roman date, are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S3) within the arable land within Bylaugh Park (NHER 30496). The site is centred on TG 0397 1892. There are no finds within the area of the cropmarks, however finds dating from the Iron Age, Roman and Saxon periods have been recovered from the general vicinity of the site. The morphology of the fragmentary fields could suggest a broadly Iron Age to Roman date. It is probable that these cropmarks are broadly contemporary with the smaller group of fragmentary field boundaries recorded to the east (NHER 50873), as they share the same general alignment.

The site consists of a dispersed group of fragmentary linear ditch cropmarks, the majority of which would appear to be the remains of former field boundaries, or where double ditched, trackways. To the north of the Hall at TG 0364 1901 is a possible rectilinear enclosure (S3), potentially measuring at least 45m by 50m. However the incomplete nature of the cropmarks means that the identification of the ditches as defining an enclosure is uncertain. It is possible that it merely relates to the intersection of two field boundaries.

Given the location of the site within the Park it must be borne in mind that some of these cropmarks may relate to post medieval parkland features now removed. Any cropmarks obviously relating to post medieval boundaries, such as those marked on the Tithe map, were omitted from the mapping. These were particularly apparent in the area to the southeast of the hall. A small group of earthworks located to the immediate southwest of the hall (NHER 50974) share a similar alignment as this fragmentary field system, however due to the upstanding nature of the site a medieval to post medieval date is considered more likely for these features, see record for details.

The arable land within the park contains many cropmarks of apparent geological and pedological origin. Only those features that could be confidently identified as archaeological were mapped, such as those more definitely rectilinear or linear, were mapped. It is therefore possible that other archaeological cropmarks have gone unmapped due to them being obscured by or misidentified as being natural in origin. The densest area of geological cropmarks was located to the southeast of the Hall (S2).
S. Massey (NMP), 03 March 2008.