NHER 50980 (Monument record) - Multi-phase cropmark site

May 2008. Norfolk NMP.
A large and dispersed group of undated and multi-phase cropmarks are visible on aerial photographs to the east of the A12 road at Hopton (S1-S7). Similar undated and fragmentary cropmarks to the west of the A12 have been recorded under NHER 50982. The cropmark includes fragmentary enclosures and field boundaries of unknown date, see below, and possibly features relating to the military defences in this area. Cropmarks potentially relating to a fragmentary field system of late prehistoric to Roman date within this area have been recorded under NHER 50981 and cropmarks of medieval to post medieval boundaries are under NHER 46165. The archaeological significance and origin of some of the remaining cropmarks is uncertain due to the presence of geological cropmarks within the area of the site.

There is a concentration of cropmarks at TF 5281 9918 (S1) and would appear to represent a palimpsest of boundaries and possible rectilinear enclosures and/or fields. The cropmarks are too fragmentary to suggest any further interpretation or dating.

It is feasible that some of the ditches visible as cropmarks along the eastern/coastal edge of this site may represent the remains of World War Two date trenches or similar linear features associated with the military sites recorded at these locations during the war, such as NHER 42491. Although no corresponding features could be identified at these locations on the wartime photography, which may indicate that they do not derive from this period. Alternatively they may date to military training and/or defensive features that pre-date the available photography or date to periods not covered by the sources used.
S. Massey (NMP), 28 May 2008.

August 2016. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site to east of Lowestoft Road and north of Longfulans Lane.
This survey identified no evidence for sub-surface remains associated with the various fragmentary linear cropmarks recorded in this field.
See report (S8) and NHER 62747 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 10 May 2018.

January 2017. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site to east of Lowestoft Road and north of Longfulans Lane.
Although the excavated trenches coincided with a number of the cropmarks in this group the majority were found to have no associated subsurface remains. The one exception was the curvilinear cropmark recorded at TM 5280 9963, although unfortunately the associated ditch produced no finds. A ditch to the north that was potentially a continuation of this feature also produced no dating evidence.
See report (S9) and NHER 62747 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 10 May 2018.

August 2019. Excavation.
Final phase of archaeological mitigation prior to development at site east of Lowestoft Road and north of Longfulans Lane.
One of the three small excavation areas coincided with the north-north-east to south-south-west aligned cropmark at TM 5282 9964. No surviving sub-surface remains were identified.
See report (S10) and NHER 62747 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 February 2023.

March 2023. Assessment of the Character and Significance of East Anglian Field Systems project.
The site described above was included in the dataset analysed for the Historic England-funded Assessment of East Anglian Field Systems project. See the project report (S11) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 22 March 2023.