NHER 68096 (Cropmark and Earthwork record) - Cropmarks of possible boundary ditches, field boundaries and trackways of an unknown date

March 2024. Wendling Beck and Fransham Aerial Investigation and Mapping (AIM) Project.
Cropmarks of a series of possible boundary ditches, field boundaries and trackways of an unknown date are seen on aerial photographs (S1-S13). The features may relate to more than one phase of activity. It is possible that some of the features may be associated with the site of Roman settlement (NHER 4079). The site of Roman settlement has been previously suggested from the large quantities of Roman finds (NHER 4079, 13042, 61822) recovered from across the area. It is also possible that some of the features (centred at TF8789 1670) could relate to a section of Roman road (NHER 2796), the proposed alignment of which runs east to west through the area. It is also possible that some of the features could relate to medieval to post medieval field boundaries. Finally, flax retting pits have been previously suggested (see above) to have been present at the site. It is possible, although less likely, that some of the features could be associated with flax retting. Modern drainage ditches and the cropmarks of natural features can also be seen across the area on the consulted sources. It is therefore possible that some of the mapped features could be modern or geological rather than archaeological in origin. Sections of a possible field boundary in the west of the area (centred at approximately TF 8797 1659) may cut or be cut by the cropmarks of a possible Roman rectangular enclosure (NHER 65029).
J. Powell (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 19 March 2024.