NHER 52311 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of ring ditch

November 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a small possible 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 2243 0443. The aerial photograph shows a huge variety of geological and naturally formed cropmarks, some of which are quite curvilinear in shape, it is therefore possible that this ring ditch-like cropmark is non-archaeological in origin. However the ring appears to be reasonably convincing on this aerial photograph, but cannot clearly be distinguished on other aerial photographs consulted. This ring ditch must therefore be considered of dubious archaeological origin. The fact that the feature was not also detected during the excavations could indicate that it is non-archaeological; however this could be due to it being truncated by ploughing prior to the excavations. The ring ditch is 7m in diameter and is located immediate next to a Bronze Age round barrow (NHER 52281). This size is consistent with the remains of Middle Iron roundhouses and temporary structures excavated approximately 175m to the south, see NHER 9794 (S4) and 52314 for details, which were also located immediate adjacent to a Bronze Age round barrow. Small ring ditches of this size have been interpreted as late Iron Age to early Roman date mortuary enclosures (S5). The Harford Farm 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.