NHER 52181 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of a polygonal enclosure/ring ditch or possible Roman temple

This site was previously recorded under NHER 9743.

March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a polygonal ring ditch or enclosure of uncertain date possible are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S4) to the west of the Roman town of Venta Icenorum (NHER 9786). These cropmarks, which are centred on TG 2224 0324, were previously recorded under NHER 9743. This polygonal enclosure could feasibly relate to a possible Roman temple and could have been located within a temple complex and area of enclosures (NHER 52186-7). A large slightly trapezoidal enclosure to the immediate east (NHER 52186) may represent some sort of public space associated with a temple or potentially relate to a high status building or villa. An alternative interpretation is that this polygonal enclosure encircled a prehistoric barrow, as it is located to the immediate north of a linear cropmark of ring ditches (NHER 52182), which may represent round barrows.
The enclosure, which measures 16-17.5m across, looks convincingly octagonal on some aerial photographs (S1), whereas it looks more circular on others, however this discrepancy in appearance could be caused by the angle of photography. A possible internal ring ditch may be visible in 1992, measuring 7.5m across, with a break to the west, although again a slightly polygonal shape must be noted (S4). In 1978 a possible break in the eastern face would suggest the presence of an entrance (S1) however a continuous ditch is visible on other aerial photographs suggesting that this was a break in the cropmark formation, although it is feasible that it relates to a change in the ditch or foundation slot at this point, perhaps relating to the former presence of an entrance.
The feature would appear to be located within an area of Roman date enclosures, that may represent the western extension of the extramural settlement of the Roman town of Venta Icenorum (NHER 9786), or perhaps relate to a temple complex or high status building or settlement, see NHER 52186-7 for details. It is feasible given the possible octagonal shape of this enclosure that it relates to a Romano-Celtic temple, with the inner ring ditch representing the remains of central shrine surrounded by an octagonal ambulatory. Although the irregular nature of the octagonal enclosure, with the individual faces being of a non-standard length and angle. The cropmarks of this possible temple would appear to relate to a relatively narrow ditch, although it is feasible that they relate to a robbed out foundation trench or wall slot. However a slightly wider feature may be expected if that were the case.
An alternative interpretation is that this polygonal enclosure encircled a prehistoric barrow, as it is located to the immediate north of a linear cropmark of ring ditches (NHER 52182), which may represent round barrows. Polygonal ring ditches surrounding Bronze Age barrows, including a number of the barrows excavated 1km to the north at Harford Farm (NHER 9794 & 52280), although none are as pronounced as this example.
S. Horlock (NMP), 23 March 2009.