NHER 52228 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of enclosures and fields parallel to the Roman road running southwest from Caistor Roman town

Some of these cropmarks were previously recorded under NHER 28456.


March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of enclosures, boundaries and fields of probable Roman date are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S5) to either side of a main Roman road (NHER 30288) leading to the Roman town of Venta Icenorum (NHER 9786) from the southeast. The site is centred on TG 2350 0315. These enclosures and fields are aligned either parallel or perpendicular to the Roman road, which runs from the Roman town towards Stoke Holy Cross to the southeast), and are likely to also be Roman in date. The boundaries also follow the general layout of the triple-ditch defences to the north (NHER 52202). It is not clear whether the enclosures relate to further areas of the extramural settlement of the town, or whether they relate to agricultural enclosures or fields. The cluster of pits in the area of TG 2342 0313 (S1-S3) could feasibly relate to areas of settlement or activity. The potentially high-subdivided area at TG 2335 0308 (S1, S4-S5) may also indicate an area of occupation, although it is feasible the ditches relate to more than one phase of land division. A fourth century AD coin was found within the general proximity of these cropmarks (NHER 22078) and approximately half of the Roman coins found in this vicinity are also of fourth century AD date (NHER 28456), although given the density of Roman activity in this area, this cannot convincingly be used to date these cropmarks specifically. It is worth noting that these enclosures and boundaries follow the same alignment as an enclosed area surrounding the possible Roman temple to the south of the town (NHER 52209-10). It is possible that all of these parts of the town date to a single phase of development around the southwestern part of the town.
S. Horlock (NMP), 23 March 2009