NHER 52198 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of possible sunken-featured buildings

These cropmarks were previously recorded under NHER 9759.

March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of possible sunken-floored buildings, possible grubenhauser, and post built structures, probably representing late Roman and Saxon settlement to the west of the Roman town of Venta Icenorum (NHER 9786), are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S4). The site is centred on TG 2265 0348. These probable buildings and structures are located within an area of enclosures and boundaries of probable Roman date (NHER 52194) that border the River Tas and the Roman Pye Road (NHER 7947) to the immediate west of the main walled town. A large quantity of late Roman and Saxon date material has been recovered to the west of the Roman town (NHER 9759), in particular the northern part of the field, and may indicate that this part of the extramural settlement was occupied in the later Roman and Saxon periods, and therefore the post-built structures and possible sunken-featured may relate to this later phase of settlement.
The sub-rectangular pit-like features are predominantly square or rectangular in shape with rounded corners and vary in size from 1m across to up to 8m, although the majority are 2-4m across. The size and shape of these compare well with excavated examples of sunken-floored structures of Saxon date, grubenhauser (S5). These are generally situated in clusters within enclosed areas within NHER 52194. A number of other angular pit-like features (less distinct than those mapped) were detected within the area of this site but were not included in the mapping as they could have been of natural origin. Associated with the southeastern cluster of pits are two post-built structures at TG 2266 0347 and TG 2267 0343 (S4), although feasibly the two sets of features may not be contemporary. The southeastern building is rectangular, 8m by 7m, with two rows of three postholes. An additional posthole or pit is visible within the central area and a narrow ditch along the southern could indicate a wall slot. The northwestern structure consists of a broadly square arrangement of posts and possible wall slots, measuring 8.5m across. Two of the pits are large and irregular in shape and would appear to be intercutting pits or postholes. The cropmarks of broadly similar, but larger post-built building were recorded to the immediate south of Roman town, see NHER 52212 for details. The plan of this structure compares well with the aisled building, interpreted as a barn of early Roman date, excavated approximately 1.5km to the northwest on the Harford Park and Ride site (NHER 39268) (S6). A Roman date for this building at Caistor also seems the most likely, given the position of it within the enclosures and fields to the south of the Roman town (NHER 52211). It is assumed that the enclosures that the possible sunken-floored structures sit within (NHER 52194) are originally Roman in date and it is also feasible that the post-built structures within these are also Roman in date, rather than being contemporary with the probable Saxon structures they in close proximity to.
S. Horlock (NMP), 23 March 2009.