Monument record WLN 071 - Two possible Bronze Age round barrows

Please read our .

Summary

The site of two possible Bronze Age round barrows may be visible as soilmarks and earthworks on historic aerial photographs. The alternative interpretation of Roman ‘red hill’ or salt making site is tentatively suggested, although this is not felt particularly likely. However it must be stated that this interpretation is uncertain and other more amorphous lighter and raised areas are visible in similar locations along the slope that have been dismissed as natural. A location of a third possible sub-circular soilmark may also be visible.

Location

Grid reference Centred TM 4611 6734 (83m by 109m)
Map sheet TM46NE
Civil Parish WESTLETON, SUFFOLK COASTAL, SUFFOLK

Map

Type and Period (3)

Full Description

January 2015. Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Beauty National Mapping Programme.
The site of two possible Bronze Age round barrows may be visible as soilmarks and earthworks on historic aerial photographs (S1-S3). The site is centred on TM 4610 6734 and both possible mounds are approximately 20m across. Both appear to be surrounded by darker ditch or hollow like areas (only the more regular feature around the northern example has been mapped).
A slight red colouration visible on colour photography surrounding this site could feasibly indicate that the mounds relate to a Roman salt production and be ‘red hills’ (S3). It may be of note that Roman finds (albeit not briquetage) have been found in the vicinity (NMR TM 46 NE 1). However, whilst the location alongside a reclaimed inlet could lend itself to this activity, the location on a slope above the 5m contour is not characteristic of other sites recorded by the Suffolk Coast NMP (S4).However it must be stated that this barrow interpretation is uncertain and other more amorphous lighter and raised areas are visible in similar locations along the slope that have been dismissed as natural. The location of a third possible sub-circular soilmark at TM 4613 6731 has been included within the monument polygon, but not included within the mapping.
The 2m lidar data would indicate that the two mounds visible in the 1950s (S1-S2) and still visible to a lesser extent in 1995 (S3) on do not survive to any great extent (S4), although higher resolution dataset may reveal traces of it.
S. Horlock (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 02nd January 2015.

Sources/Archives (4)

  • <S1> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical aerial photograph. RAF/58/1674 F21 0210-0211 04-MAR-1955 (EHA Original Print).
  • <S2> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical aerial photograph. RAF/58/2378 V 0130-0131 28-FEB-1958 (EHA Original Print).
  • <S3> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical aerial photograph. Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Airmap96 20 3-4 08-OCT-1995 (Print).
  • <S4> LIDAR Airborne Survey: LIDAR airborne survey. LIDAR TM4667 Environment Agency 25-JUL-2011 (2m DTM Digital).

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

Record last edited

Jul 10 2015 3:55PM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any more information about this record? Please feel free to comment with information and photographs, or ask any questions, using the "Disqus" tool below. Comments are moderated, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible.