NHER 53213 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks and soilmarks of a possible road or boundary

November 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a possible road and/or boundary of either Roman or medieval to post medieval date are visible on aerial photographs to the west of the Norwich Road, Poringland (S1-S3). The site is centred on TG 2577 0377. The cropmarks and soilmarks of parallel ditches, 12m apart, are visible on a number of aerial photographs (S1-S3). A possible light coloured soilmark (S2) and cropmark could suggest that a bank or compacted or metalled surface run inbetween the ditches (S3). The line of this appears to represent a possible continuation of the parish boundary line between Caistor St Edmund and Bixley. This may represent a continuation of a boundary and/or road that runs to the immediate south of the parish boundary further to the northwest (NHER 53214). Although it is very uncertain, it is possible that this represents a continuation of a Roman road recorded from cropmarks to the southwest (NHER 9862). Another major linear boundary, also interpreted as a Roman road (NHER 53212), diagonally crosses this road or boundary, although no definite relationship between the two features can be determined from the cropmarks, which are sparse at the probable point of intersection.
S. Horlock (NMP), 05 November 2009.

November 2011. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetic gradiometry survey of proposed development site.
This survey revealed a number of positive area anomalies indicative of cut features such as pits, as well as possible linear features. Earth resistance data collected in the north of the survey area identified cut features which correlate well with the location of cropmarks suggested as of Roman or medieval date, above, and also possibly with those of a roman road (NHER 53212) and other cropmarks in the area(NHER 53226).
See report (S4) and NHER 61166 for further details.
E. Bales (HES), 9 July 2012. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 25 August 2015.

July 2014. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
Two trenches placed to coincide with these cropmarks identified a number of similarly-aligned linear features. Although these parallel features were individually reasonably convincing as ditches it appears that they were intermit as not a single one was identified in an adjacent trench. Significantly one of these features produced a small assemblage of Roman pottery.
See report (S5) and NHER 61166 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 3 November 2016.