NHER 52320 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of a concentric ring ditch

March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a concentric ring ditch, potentially represent the remains of an Iron Age to Roman date roundhouse or Bronze Age round barrow, are visible on aerial photographs (S1) to the east of Chapel Hill, Caistor St Edmunds. The site is centred on TG 2324 0476. This possible ring ditch may be visible in June 1992 (S1), however it is located within an area of extremely busy and dense cropmarks related to the underlying soils and geology. Whilst some doubt must therefore remain over the origin of these cropmarks, the cropmarks could not be completely dismissed as non-archaeological. The site consists of an outer ring ditch, 14.5m in diameter, the northern half of which is not visible. Within this ring, but offset from the centre, is another smaller arc or incomplete ring, 5.5m in diameter. Given the context of the site within close proximity to the several other significant barrow groups (NHER 51966, 53403) and the Arminghall and Markshall henges (NHER 6100, 9582), it is possible that this represents the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow. The ring ditch is located on the valleyside overlooking the River Tas to the east and in close proximity to the linear barrow group to the east (NHER 51966). However the ring ditch is also located to the immediate south of a large rectilinear enclosure, possibly a Roman or Iron Age to Roman date farmstead or small settlement (NHER 52327) and may therefore represent the remains of a roundhouse or similar structure.
S. Horlock (NMP), 23 March 2009.