Monument record ELV 101 - Cropmarks of possible ditches of uncertain date and significance

January 2018. 'Brecks from Above' and Breckland National Mapping Programme.
The cropmarks of fragmentary ditches and possible incomplete rectilinear enclosures of unknown date and significance are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S5). There is a possibility that some, feasibly all, of the mapped ‘ditches’ relate to periglacial striped ground or similar features. The extent of the site includes the location of some possible cropmark ditches not included within the mapping, due to uncertainty over their archaeological origin and significance.
The cropmarks within the northern part of the site correspond with an area of evaluations (ELV 053-054) and excavations (ELV 089/Area 12) in advance of the A11 dualling works (S6-S7). Segments of undated ditches and pits were recorded for this area during the evaluation (S6). However the main excavations found no archaeological features in Area 12 (S7), including the part where a few possible ditches were tentatively identified on the aerial photographs within the northeastern part of this site. This could suggest that the cropmarks relate to geomorphological linear features either dismissed or not visible within the trench. The area of possible cropmarks to the west of the plantation belt are outside of the area excavated so no comparative evidence exists.
S. Horlock (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 24th January 2018.