NHER 52182 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of three ring ditches in a line, possible Bronze Age round barrows, or Iron Age roundhouses

March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of three ring ditches and a small enclosure, potentially represent the remains of Bronze Age round barrows, or Iron Age roundhouses, are visible on aerial photographs to the west of the Roman town at Caistor (S1-S2). The site is centred on TG 2225 0321.
The ring ditches are all 14m in diameter and are extremely uniform in their plan and arrangement; approximately 7m apart. The northernmost of the group has a noticeably broader ditch, 1-1.5m across. The size is towards the lower range for Bronze Age round barrows, although examples of this size do occur. The ring ditches would appear to pre-date or post-date the enclosures and boundaries assumed to be of Roman date (NHER 52187), possibly associated with a temple complex or settlement to the west of the town. Given the character of the cropmarks a pre-Roman date seems the most likely. It is feasible that the ring ditches represent the remains of a row of Saxon barrows, although the general lack of Saxon material from this field, despite continued fieldwork, could indicate that this is not the case. An alternative interpretation is that the ring ditches represent the remains of later prehistoric or Iron Age roundhouses, however a penannular shape have might be expected if this were the case, although it is possible that a continuous trench could have been formed from the eaves-drip gully. The broader width of the northern ring ditch would also suggest that this does not relate to prehistoric roundhouse. Although no definite interpretation can be made it seems most likely that these ring ditches do relate to former barrows. The sub-rectangular enclosure, 10.5m by 8m (S1), adjacent to the central barrow could feasibly also relate to a funerary or mortuary enclosure.
The two northernmost ring ditches appear to contain pit-like features, which may relate to contemporary deposits, either funerary or domestic, depending on the interpretation. Although it must be noted that the aerial photographs reveal numerous pits in this area, the majority of which were not mapped, due to the fact that they could not easily be distinguished from naturally occurring pit-like features, although it is feasible that they relate to prehistoric to Roman date deposits. A large rounded pit, 4m across (S1), was mapped adjacent to the southernmost barrow, as it was felt to be archaeological and may relate to the ring ditches.
S. Horlock (NMP), 11 March 2009.