NHER 66699 (Monument record) - Undated settlement, post-medieval or earlier field boundaries and remains of World War Two airfield

November 2016. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potential archaeological impact of large proposed development.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 7 March 2023.

October 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of part of large proposed development area (Area 10).
This survey confirmed the presence of extensive archaeological remains in the eastern half of the site, with a dense band of linear anomalies recorded. These remains are likely to represent an area of former settlement and many of the features are also visible as cropmarks of aerial photographs (NHER 50727). The results of the geophysical survey are broadly consistent with the cropmark evidence, which suggests the site comprises a linear arrangement of rectilinear enclosures ranged along a double-ditched trackway or road (the line of which is now marked by the Rackheath/Salhouse parish boundary). The enclosures are all immediately adjacent to this routeway, with the majority lying to the west. A number of perpendicular ditches extend beyond this line of enclosures, several of which correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the Rackheath tithe map (S2). These include a particular substantial west-north-west to east-south-east aligned anomaly running between TG 2906 1463 and TG 2948 1455 that may have once been another routeway of some kind (the associated 19th-century field boundary continuing the line of a short section of former trackway or road marked to the east).
Numerous fragmentary cropmarks that appear to represent elements of an earlier, differently-aligned field system have also been recorded in this field (NHER 50726). There was though little evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with these cropmarks. The main exceptions are a north-east to south-west aligned cropmark in the south-east corner of the site shown to correspond with a modern service and several short parallel cropmarks at the northern end of the western field that are almost certainly also modern.
A range of anomalies are likely to represent remains and debris associated with the World War Two airfield (NHER 8170). These include a number of strong positive and negative anomalies at the eastern edge of the site that correlate with features visible on aerial photographs of the airfield, including areas of tarmac, butts and a fuel storage/distribution area. Lines of parallel, short linear anomalies in the western half of the site relate to two of the main runways and a connecting taxiway. These anomalies are adjacent and perpendicular to the recorded positions of these structures, suggesting they potentially represent associated drainage features.
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 8 November 2023.

March 2022. Desk-based Assessment.
Updated archaeological assessment of large proposed development.
See report (S4) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 7 March 2023.