NHER 52313 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of ring ditch

November 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a small ring ditch, possibly the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow or later prehistoric to Roman date roundhouse or agricultural structure, is visible on aerial photographs (S1) to the southwest of Harford Farm cropmark complex (NHER 52324). The site is centred on TG 2237 0427. The ring ditch is 8m in diameter. This ring ditch looks fairly convincing in June 1961 (S1-S2), however it must be noted that cropmarks of a more geological appearance can be detected on other aerial photographs, such as (S3). Although it is worth noting that the Middle Iron Age roundhouses and circular temporary structures excavated approximately 100m to the east, see NHER 9794 (S4) and 52314 for details, also looked unconvincing on may of the aerial photographs. If this feature is archaeological then it potentially represents the remains of a small roundhouse or agricultural temporary structure of possible Iron Age date. The small size of this ring ditch probably means that it is unlikely to relate to a Bronze Age barrow, although it remains a possibility. Small ring ditches of this size have been interpreted as late Iron Age to early Roman date mortuary enclosures (S5). The excavations revealed funerary activity of this date in the form of the square-ditched enclosures and cremation deposits, see NHER 9794 (S4) and NHER 52289 for details.
S. Horlock (NMP), 23 November 2009.