NHER 57991 (Monument record) - Cropmark field system, Bronze Age to Iron Age or Roman

This site was previously recorded under NHER 36731.

August 2012.
The cropmarks of an extensive co-axial field system of possible Bronze Age to Iron Age or Roman date is visible on aerial photographs to the north of Coltishall airfield (S1-S2). This site was previously recorded under NHER 36731. The site is centred on TG 2672 2405. The southeastern and southwestern parts of this site has been mapped as part of an aerial photograph assessment of Coltishall airfield. It was not within the scope or available timetable for the project to map the entire site, the unmapped elements of which can seen on (S1-S2). The ditches of the field system generally follow a northeast to southwest or northwest to southeast direction, although there appears to be some variation. Full mapping of the site would be required to ascertain this.
This field system has previously been recorded as being of Roman date, however 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. A Roman date for the field system also remains a good possibility and Roman finds have been recovered in the wider area, for example NHER 24886. The field system, or at least parts of it, appear to share the same alignment and similarity of plan to the enclosure and fields recorded to the east (NHER 36729), which is also suggested as being Roman in date. Although excavations on parts of this site revealed no conclusive dating material, although a number of prehistoric flints were recovered. It could suggested that if the enclosure was Roman in date, that some Roman material would be expected, however only a small area was investigated (S3).
It must be noted that the predominant alignment of the field system appears to be reflected in two major linear boundary ditches to the west of Coltishall airfield (NHER 57987-8), also suggested as being later prehistoric and/or Roman in date.
S. Horlock (HES), 30 August 2012.