NHER 50950 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of a possible ring ditch of unknown date

March 2008. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a small ring ditch, possibly representing the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow, a late Iron Age mortuary enclosure or a later prehistoric or Roman date roundhouse, are visible on aerial photographs to the east of Gravel Pit Plantation, Tottenhill (S1). The site is centred on TF 0141 2084. The archaeological origin of this cropmark is not certain and it possible that it is geological in origin. Numerous cropmarks of natural features are apparent on the aerial photographs at this site.

The ring ditch is 10m in diameter and has a break in the ditch to the east. It is possible that this represents a small Bronze Age round barrow. Ring ditches of a similar size are visible on aerial photographs within the 60 Acre Field Iron Age to Roman site to the south (main record - NHER 39458). One of these features has been excavated and was interpreted as the remains of a late Iron Age mortuary enclosure (S2). It is therefore possible that this cropmark relates to a similar funerary structure. An alternative interpretation is that the ring ditch represents the eaves drip gully of a later prehistoric or Roman date roundhouse.

This ring ditch is located within a possible area of fragmentary ditches and field boundaries (NHER 17786). It is possible that these could be the remains of boundaries associated with a roundhouse. Although as mentioned above, the geological cropmarks in this area made the confident identification of archaeological features problematic. Evaluation excavations to the south of this cropmark, and within the area of NHER 17786, revealed evidence for occasional shallow gullies and ditches, unfortunately undated (S3). But in general the area was relatively devoid of definite archaeological features when compared with Police Field (NHER 39457) and 60 Acre Field (NHER 39458) to the south.
S. Massey (NMP), 05 March February 2008.