NHER 53663 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmark of undated field boundaries and ditches

June 2010. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of enclosures, field boundaries and pits of probable later prehistoric to Roman date are visible on aerial photographs to the southeast of Easton (S1-S4). The site is centred on TG 1420 1063 and consists of a number of fragmentary and incomplete rectilinear enclosures and associated boundary ditches, probably former field boundaries. Ditches of a possible prehistoric date have excavated to the north, see NHER 16309 for details (S5), and one of these follows broadly the same alignment as the a number of the cropmarks ditches and it is therefore possible that these cropmarks are also prehistoric in date, although a Roman date would also be appropriate given the morphology of the site. Roman finds have been recovered from the general area of the site (NHER 14284). A number of pit-like features were also mapped, although it is possible that these are of natural origin, these had a well defined and discrete appearance which potentially distinguished them from other more seemingly natural pits-lie cropmarks. Pits of a prehistoric and/or Bronze Age date have been excavated to the north, see NHER 16309, 25703 and 36414.
The cropmarks of numerous parallel linear ditch-like features of geological origin were visible within the area of TG 1418 1055 (S2). This made the identification of possible archaeological features potentially running on a similar alignment problematic, consequently only a few ditches were mapped in this area. Additional possible cropmarks were tentatively identified within the northern part of the site (S1-2), but were not mapped due to uncertainty over their origin.
S. Horlock (NMP), 21 June 2010.

April 2014. Geophysical Survey.
Geophysical survey of part of large proposed development area.
This surveys of these three fields revealed no evidence for surviving sub-subsurface remains associated with these cropmarks. It should though be noted that although it was felt that ground conditions had been favourable for a magnetometer survey, subsequent trial trenching at this location and at least one of the sites examined elsewhere recorded a range of features that the geophysical survey had failed to identify.
See NHERs 61657 and 65073 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 9 June 2021.

November 2014. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
Several ditches were identified, although it is not entirely clear at present if any are likely to correspond with the previously identified cropmark features. No dating evidence was recovered.
See report (S6) and NHER 61657 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 October 2016.

January-February 2022. Trial Trenching.
This second phase of evaluation saw the excavation of 52 additional trenches within the area of these cropmarks. Although a number of the trenches coincided with the mapped cropmarks no corresponding sub-surface remains were identified.
See report (S7) and NHERs 61657 and 65073 for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 28 May 2024.