NHER 52327 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of a possible enclosed farmstead or settlement and fields of possible Roman date

November 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a possible enclosed farmstead or small settlement with associated fields of unknown, but potentially Roman date, are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S8) along the route of the Southern Bypass at Markshall, Caistor St Edmunds. Excavations of an area of aggregate extraction within this area (to the north of the line of the Southern Bypass) in 1991 revealed evidence of Neolithic pits, a possible Saxon grave, medieval and post medieval ditches and pits and a number of unphased pits and ditches (NHER 9584), but interestingly produced no Roman date features (S9). However surface finds in the general area of the site are predominantly Roman in date (NHER 9584, 9789, 9852, 31653). Possible Iron Age pottery was found in two unphased pits during the excavations, although this may have been residual (S9). The lack of Roman date features was highlighted as unusual given the close proximity to the Roman town at Caistor during the 1991 excavations (S9), although it is feasible that all of this activity was taking place to the south of both of the excavation area and the route of the Southern Bypass itself. However comparison of the mapping and the line of the road would indicate that some features relating to this enclosure would have been revealed during the watching brief, however only finds (including some of Roman date) were recorded (NHER 9584). It is possible that features have been truncated by the plough by this date. The morphology of the cropmarks would also be consistent with a site of Roman or Iron Age to Roman date.
The site is centred on TG 2321 0464, however the main concentration of cropmarks is centred on TG 2328 0481. The main component of the site would appear to be a large rectangular enclosed area, at least 120m by 100m, and long axis of which is aligned NE-SW. A trackway runs along the southwestern side of this enclosure. The interior of this large enclosed area is heavily subdivided and has possible pit clusters, although it was hard to confidently distinguish these from natural pit-like features. This appears to fall just outside of the excavation area. Fragmentary boundaries following the same alignment as the enclosure were recorded within the vicinity of the site, most significantly in the area of TG 2328 0481 (S2, S5) and TG 2322 0430 (S7-S8). The cropmarks of a ring ditch to the immediate south of the trackway (NHER 52320), could represent a broadly contemporary roundhouse, was recorded separately, as it may pre-date the site and represent the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow. It is thought that these features may represent the remains of broadly contemporary fields associated with the enclosed farmstead or settlement to the north.
S. Horlock (NMP), 23 November 2009.