NHER 50954 (Monument record) - Fragmentary cropmarks of undated field boundaries and possible rectilinear enclosures

March 2008. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of fragmentary ditches, probably the remains of field boundaries and possible rectilinear enclosures of unknown, but possibly later prehistoric to Roman period date, are visible on aerial photographs to the north of the Whin Common, Tottenhill (S1). The site is centred on TG 6397 1134. The site is located to the south and east of several large areas of aggregate extraction.

The morphology of the cropmarks would suggest a later prehistoric to Roman date for these features. A group of similarly aligned fragmentary field boundaries have been recorded to the immediate north and west (NHER 50952-3), although these are again undated. The site is located approximately 500m to the northeast of known Roman date occupation (NHER 39457) and it is therefore possibly that these cropmarks also date to that period. However the excavated features dating to the Roman period followed a more N-S and E-W alignment.

The site consists of dispersed and fragmentary ditches and former field boundaries. A number of these boundary ditches converge to suggest the presence of rectilinear enclosures, although the cropmarks are too fragmentary to be certain.

Although it is felt that the majority of these cropmarks represent the remains of the remains of former field boundaries and possibly rectilinear enclosures. A number of cropmarks relating to drainage were identified in this area on other aerial photographs and it is therefore feasible that some of the cropmarks interpreted as ditches are post medieval to modern date drainage ditches.
S. Massey (NMP), 05 March 2008.