NHER 51977 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of a possible curvilinear enclosure of unknown date and origin

March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a possible curvilinear enclosure of unknown date and archaeological significance are visible on aerial photographs to the north of Maltkiln Farm, Stoke Holy Cross (S1). The site is centred on TG 2369 0047. The possible enclosure is visible within the far ground on an oblique aerial photograph and it is therefore hard to confidently identify whether the cropmarks are of archaeological origin. Other cropmarks visible within this field on the photograph were omitted from the mapping due to them having a probably agricultural origin. The archaeological origin of these cropmarks is therefore uncertain. The cropmarks possibly reveal an incomplete curvilinear or oblong enclosure, measuring 20m by at least 40m. A possible double ditch may be visible along some sections of the enclosure ditch. The possible elongated and oblong shape of the ditches has some similarities with Neolithic long mounds and mortuary enclosures. It must be noted that a number of Neolithic date finds have been recovered from the general vicinity of the site, most notably in a general concentration around the Holy Cross Church, 400m to the northwest (NHER 9727-8, 9758). A number of Iron Age, Roman, Saxon and medieval finds have been recovered from this general area, for example NHER 9739, 24332 and 24511 indicating the use of this general area over a number of periods. It is therefore possible that the enclosure, if it is archaeological, dates to a later period.
S. Horlock (NMP), 11 March 2009.