NHER 53348 (Monument record) - Cropmarks of post-built structures, enclosure and fields surrounding a Roman villa

March 2009. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of post-built structures, enclosures and fields surrounding the Stoke Holy Cross Roman villa (NHER 9732) are visible on aerial photographs.
The cropmarks relating to the actual villa and the later Roman post-built structure have been recorded under NHER 9732. This site relates to other cropmarks, some of which may be contemporary, surrounding the main structures.
In the area immediate around the villa and timber structure are a number of possible enclosures, at least one of which at TG 2472 0165 may represent an enclosure contemporary with the main villa complex, and numerous boundary ditches. A large concentration of pits and/or postholes is centred on TG 2473 0173 (S1, S4). These are likely to represent several phases of timber structures, at least one of which measures 8m by 3m. It is possible that these represent Roman or Saxon date agricultural post-built barns or similar structures. , although it must be stated that some of these may be naturally occurring features – they have been mapped due to the nearby presence of more convincing late Roman post-built structures. Also in this area on (S1) are a series of possible linear and angular parchmarks, although the vast majority of these were omitted from the mapping due to probability that they related to underlying geological deposits. It is feasible that some of these possible angular parchmarks which may indicate the presence of additional masonry or compacted surfaces associated with the Roman villa landscape, although this is uncertain. Additional possible post-built structures were tentatively identified at TG 2460 0171 and TG 2462 0167 (S1), although again given the geological background these are only possible identifications.
The cropmarks of a possible rectangular enclosure is located at TG 2484 0176 (S1). The remainder of the site is largely characterised by fragmentary ditches and field boundaries representing more than one phase, although a significant proportion are likely to be Roman in date. To the southeast of the main villa buildings is an area of fragmentary ditches, which may represent earlier fields (S1), although some of these could easily be derived from underlying geological features. The cropmarks recorded on the eastern extremities of the site are also of uncertain archaeological origin and again could be natural.
S. Horlock (NMP), 23 March 2009.