NHER 52263 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of field boundaries of unknown, but possible Iron Age to Roman date

March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of more than one phase of field boundaries of unknown, but possible Iron Age to Roman date, are visible on aerial photographs to the south of the Waterworks, Markshall (S1-S4). The site is centred on TG 2418 0480. The site consists of fragmentary ditched boundaries and enclosures assumed to represent the remains of former field boundaries. Within the southern part of the site, centred on TG 2422 0467, is an area of fragmentary conjoined rectilinear enclosures (S2-S3), again possibly representing more than one phase of ditches. Significant amounts of Neolithic to early Bronze Age date and Roman date material have been recovered from the general vicinity of these cropmarks (NHER 9581, 9812,13350, 21783 & 37001) suggesting at least two main phases of activity in this area. The majority of the cropmarks recorded are likely to relate to Roman, or Iron Age to Roman date, fields and boundaries. It is feasible that some of the boundaries mapped are later in date, potentially medieval to post medieval, in particular those longer parallel ditches recorded within the northern part of the site, although none of these are depicted on the 1840 Caistor St Edmund Tithe map (S5).
S. Horlock (NMP), 23 March 2009.