NHER 57988 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of possible later prehistoric or Roman boundary ditch

August 2012.
The cropmarks of a possible later prehistoric and/or Roman boundary ditch is visible on aerial photographs (S1) to the west of Coltishall airfield. The site is centred on TG 2494 2293. The ditch which runs intermittently from TG 2452 2242 to TG 2524 2333. Another long-distance boundary ditch runs almost parallel approximately 600m to the east (NHER 57987). There is a general lack of correspondence between this boundary and with medieval to post medieval landscape features it crosses and it is assumed that this boundary is either later prehistoric or Roman in date. However it must be noted the southern part of the boundary depicted as the ‘Bounds between Lamas and Little Hautbois’ on the 1841 Tithe Map (S2) follows a very similar alignment approximately 80m to the east, as do some of the medieval to post medieval field boundaries in this area. Whilst this could indicate the boundary ditch is also historic in date, it seems more likely that part of it stayed in use, given the lack of correspondence with other aspects of the landscape. The exact route of the boundary at its northern end is not clear, as there are two possible courses indicated by the cropmarks; one that diverts from the general alignment slightly to mirror that of the Scottow Road and another fragmentary ditch section along the original alignment to the northeast. It must also be noted that this boundary ditch and NHER 57987 to the east appears to follow a very similar alignment to the co-axial field system to the north east (NHER 36731). This has previously been recorded as being of Roman date, but it must be noted that it exhibits many similarities with the plan of the Nova Scotia Farm co-axial field system at Ormesby which has been proven by excavation to have its origins in the Middle Bronze Age (NHER 12828), although it is not clear how much of it is of this date. Some components may be Iron Age in date.
S. Horlock (HES), 30 August 2012.

October 2025. HER Enhancement: Forestry Commission Project K.
Cropmark sections of the above possible later prehistoric and/or Roman boundary ditch are also visible on aerial photographs from 2011 (S3), 2019 (S4) and 2020 (S5).
J. Powell (Norfolk County Council Environment Service), 14 October 2025