NHER 51579 (Monument record) - Possible mining pits and quarry pits

January-February 2008. Geophysical Survey.
Magetometry survey of possible aggregate extraction site (Area C).
Geophysical survey in this field recorded several anomalies of possible archaeological origin. Two discrete positive anomalies similar to those recorded at NHER 51577 and NHER 51578 have been identified as pit-like features. In adjact fields these features have been interpreted as possible Prehistoric flint mines, but in this field they are associated with two zones of positive response which likely represent in-filled quarry or gravel pits similar to an extant pit identified to the east of the survey area. A variety of other linear and pit-like anomalies of uncertain origin were also recorded throughout the field.
See report (S1) for further details.
H. Hamilton (NLA), 11 June 2008.

2008-2009. Systematic Fieldwalking Survey and Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of possible aggregate extraction site (Area C).
Details awaited.
The archive associated with these phases of work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2008.95 and NWHCM : 2008.411).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 5 May 2019.

June 2010. Norfolk NMP.
Assessment of the aerial photographs for the area of this geophysical survey revealed a number of fragmentary ditches (S2), a significant number of which corresponded with the results of the geophysics (S1). Further assessment of the cropmarks in relation to the geophysics results may be beneficial, but time is not currently available within the NMP project. A significant number of the cropmarks recorded corresponded with a number of fragmentary ‘positive linear anomalies’ interpreted as possible ditch-like features, but of uncertain origin (referred to as features 26 in report) (S1), this correlation would indeed suggest that the majority of them are ditches.
The majority ditches mapped are either parallel or perpendicular to one another, suggesting that they may form part of a field system of unknown date, although some are likely to be later prehistoric to Roman in date. Finds of a prehistoric and Roman date have been found in the vicinity (NHER 7998-9, 15026, 17037, 17459, 17554, 21014 & 22916) and this may reflect the date of the ditches.
It must be noted that numerous linear and rectilinear cropmarks of probable geological origin were also visible on the aerial photographs (S2) and it may be that other archaeological features are present that were not detected due to being obscured by or confused with natural cropmarks. It is also possible that some of the features mapped as ditches could feasibly also be of geological origin, although the regularity and coherency of the apparent plan.
S. Horlock (NMP), 22 June 2010.