Monument record CAC 079 - Multi-period field systems, Bloodmoor Hill

April 2003: An eariela photographic assessment identified parts of a ditched field system (S14)

September 2014. Lothingland, Lowestoft and North Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Mapping Programme.
An extensive area of cropmarks, representing the remains of one or more field systems, with associated boundaries and trackways, all of unknown but potentially multi-period date, is visible on aerial photographs (S1)-(S10). This area, known as Bloodmoor Hill, has been the subject of numerous archaeological investigations, including excavations, which have revealed significant remains, including burial and settlement, dating to the Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman and Saxon periods (for example, SHER CAC 013, CAC 042). Like SHER CAC 063, 280m to the northwest, the cropmarks are likely to present a palimpsest landscape, elements of which may have continued in use into the medieval and post medieval periods. Much of what is visible on the aerial photographs conforms to the orientation and layout of the field pattern depicted by historic maps. However the excavated evidence, and evidence from CAC 063 to the north, suggests that the origin of some elements at least may be earlier. Further work to collate the existing ‘grey literature’, and published material, and correlate it with the NMP mapping, would undoubtedly be useful but is beyond the scope of the current NMP survey.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 12th September 2014.

October 2014. Lothingland, Lowestoft and North Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Mapping Programme.
Further assessment of the aerial photograph sources (S1-S10) in relation to the published excavation plans relating to CAC 013 and CAC 016 (S11) revealed additional fragmentary cropmarks (S8), relating to the sections of the trackway and enclosures revealed during excavations which were interpreted as being Roman in date (S11). Although, as stated above, the majority of the cropmarks related to predominantly later agricultural boundaries and features. Cropmarks of boundary ditches and trackways to the west of CAC 016 and CAC 042 are likely to be an extention of the Roman (or earlier) trackway. An extension to the eastern edge of the site was made to include an area of cropmarks visible on (S12-S13), which represent another possible phase of fields, following a similar alignment to those element mapped previously within the southeastern part of the site. It must be noted that fragmentary boundaries excavated to the immediate south of this area (CAC 035) were thought to be Late Bronze Age and/or Early Iron Age in date.
S. Horlock (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 8th October 2014.

March 2023. Assessment of the Character and Significance of East Anglian Field Systems project.
The site described above was included in the dataset analysed for the Historic England-funded Assessment of East Anglian Field Systems project. See the project report (S15) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 21 March 2023.