NHER 55987 (Monument record) - Multi-period remains

September-October 2010. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development area (Field 1).
This survey identified a range of archaeologically-significant anomalies, a number of which can be seen to correspond with previously identified cropmark features.
A sub-circular anomaly identified at TG 11288 03138 clearly coincides with a cropmark ring-ditch thought to represent the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow (NHER 51853). There was however no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with a second cropmark ring-ditch recorded approximately 130m to the south (NHER 51854).
Two east-to-west aligned linear anomalies close to the western edge of the field correspond with the line of the Roman road that ran between Caistor St Edmund and Crownthorpe (NHER 19725).
Responses likely to represent more recent remains include a number of linear anomalies that clearly coincide with former field boundaries depicted on the Wymondham tithe map of 1839 (S1). A strong discrete anomaly at the western edge of the field (interpreted as representing a large buried iron object) corresponds with a former pit marked on the Ordnance Survey Six-inch First Edition map (S2) (originally recorded separately as NHER 55988).
A strong dipolar anomaly at the southern edge of the field (TG 1146 0301) was thought to be the terminus of a pipeline but can now be seen to coincide exactly with one of two structures associated with a World War Two wireless station (NHER 52901). The structure at this location was probably a Medium Frequency Direction Finding (MF/DF) station.
Other potentially archaeologically-significant responses included a group of three weak and disjointed linear anomalies in the southern part of the site that could represent ditches and a nearby discrete positive anomaly that could be a large infilled pit.
See report (S3) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S4).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 10 February 2021.