NHER 52229 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of Roman extramural settlement and streets outside of Caistor Roman town walls

These cropmarks were previously recorded under NHER 9791.

March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of Roman extramural settlement and streets to the west of the Roman town of Venta Icenorum (NHER 9786) are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S11). The site is centred on TG 2353 0336. These cropmarks were previously recorded under NHER 9791, see this record for details of finds for this area. The cropmarks grouped under this number include street and road sections that are largely located outside of both the town walls and triple ditch defences (NHER 52202). One of these road sections appears to link with the major Roman road that runs southeast of the town towards Stoke Holy Cross (NHER 30288). Although it is hard to be certain from aerial photographic evidence alone, at least some of these roads would appear to pre-date the triple-ditch defences (NHER 52202) and also some of the streets relating to the extramural settlement to the west of these defences (NHER 52230). The position of the triple ditch defences within the overall Caistor sequence is uncertain, with interpretations varying from an early Roman military fort to town defences post-dating the establishment of the town, see NHER 52201-2 for discussion.
Previous investigation of this area has suggested the presence of three straight roads coming out of the town, following an E-W course. In part this appears to be due to an assumption that the roads will continue on a straight course out of the town. However some of the aerial photographs would appear to indicate that most of these roads are particularly regular as might be expected and a number of the routes appear to take unusual courses east of the town.
The southern of the two roads leading from the town appears to start off on a relatively straight E-W course, but then cannot definitely by traced after approximately 150m from the town walls. A slightly curving lighter linear visible in 1960 (S4) appearing to continue the line of this road, was dismissed as relatively recent track, as vehicle tracks can be detected along the edges. It seems likely that this mark is the origin of the previously recorded road continuing straight for the length of the field. A possible 50m long segment of the road may be visible in 1986 (S6), although the mark is extremely faint and is not visible on other aerial photographs. A further possible segment of this road may also be visible further to the east in 1977 (S5), although again this far from certain. Geophysical survey in this field would help resolve this issue. A branch road leading off to the northeast from this road at TG 2342 0337 is the only road that is clearly visible on the majority of the aerial photographs consulted and this may have joined with the possible Roman road running to east (NHER 52244).
The northern E-W road is only visible as an intermittent parchmark, showing most clearly in 1960 (S4), although see above for discussion of recent tracks within this field being interpreted as Roman roads. This road would be expected to run towards the east gate of the town, although it cannot clearly be distinguished nearer the town itself. The only possible section of it visible in close vicinity to the town walls is from TG 2336 0347 to TG 2345 0346, although this is far from certain. Due to the faint nature of the parchmark it is extremely hard to be certain over the stratigraphic relationship between this possible road and the more clearly defined streets of NHER 52230 and the triple-ditch defences (NHER 52201-2). Although it would appear that this road pre-dates the streets and possible buildings (52230) it may appear to post-date the triple ditches, as the cropmark over the ditches lightens slightly at that point. Although this may be due to a stonier or more compacted fill at this section and this could be due to the existing presence of a road and not necessarily due to be crossed by a road surface at a later date. The road to the south would more convincingly appear to pre-date the triple-ditch defences as the road surface can be seen to continue under the ditches, see NHER 52201-2. The road further to the west also appears to be have been cut by ditches following the same alignment as the triple-ditch defences (NHER 52230), again suggesting that the road pre-dates this re-development of this part of the town.
An additional roadway or street running broadly N-S between the two road segments can be seen towards the eastern part of the field (S5, S7). A possible lighter line of vegetation and a slight earthwork (S1-S2, S4) running along the line of the current field boundary of the field to the north could indicate that it runs on top of a Roman road, although this is uncertain. Another significant roadway or street is aligned NNW-SSE, running from TG 2337 0345 to TG 2349 0322, and appears to link with the major Roman road that runs southeast of the town towards Stoke Holy Cross (NHER 30288). It is worth noting that only the northernmost section of this road appears to be straight and substantial route. The less regular and continuous route to this south is only suggested by an oblique aerial photograph from 1977 (S4), although the marks are far from certain and it is possible that they relate to more recent access routes across the field. Although it seems most likely that this road or street links to the main road (30288), it is worth noting that this more meandering route runs toward the area of the Saxon cemetery excavated in the 1930s (NHER 9791) and it is feasible that this roadway has been amended since the Roman period.
S. Horlock (NMP), 23 March 2009.