Monument record BRD 265 - Earthworks, soilmarks and cropmarks of possible settlement from the Roman, Saxon and medieval periods

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Summary

An area of earthworks, former earthworks, soilmarks and cropmarks of settlement, platforms, boundaries and fields potentially dating from the Roman, Saxon and medieval periods are visible on the aerial photographs and Environment Agency 1m resolution lidar data. The southern part of this site coincided with the location of finds relating to Roman and Saxon activity and medieval settlement (BRD 075). The finds relating to the medieval settlement may indicate that the majority of the enclosures, platforms and fields relate to activity of this date. However given the high level of Roman and Saxon settlement and activity known in this area, it is feasible that pre-medieval elements are present, in particular to the north of the site adjacent to the River Ouse and where Roman material has been recorded (BRD 035). Note the proximity to the Staunch Meadow Saxon and medieval site (BRD 018, BRD 267).

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 7737 8653 (700m by 939m)
Map sheet TL78NE
Civil Parish BRANDON, FOREST HEATH, SUFFOLK

Map

Type and Period (16)

Full Description

March 2017. 'Brecks from Above' and Breckland National Mapping Programme.
An area of earthworks, former earthworks, soilmarks and cropmarks of settlement, platforms, boundaries and fields potentially dating from the Roman, Saxon and medieval periods are visible on the aerial photographs (S1-S9) and Environment Agency 1m resolution lidar data (S10). The southern part of this site coincided with the location of finds relating to Roman and Saxon activity and medieval settlement (BRD 075). The finds relating to the medieval settlement may indicate that the majority of the enclosures, platforms and fields relate to activity of this date. However given the high level of Roman and Saxon settlement and activity known in this area, it is feasible that pre-medieval elements are present, in particular to the north of the site adjacent to the River Ouse and where Roman material has been recorded (BRD 035). Note the proximity to the Staunch Meadow Saxon and medieval site (BRD 018, BRD 267).
The site consists of a southern area of enclosures and platforms arranged along a series of tracks and strip fields and broadly coincides with the surface evidence of medieval settlement (BRD 075), although Roman material was also recovered. A broad of hollow and/or boundary ditch runs north from this area and may have acted as a hollow way. The northern part of the site shows evidence of rectilinear enclosures and platforms and may also relate to settlement. Some of which may be Roman or Saxon in date, see BRD 047, BRD 035.
The Environment Agency 1m resolution Lidar data (S10) would indicate that the level of earthwork survival is low across the site, other than the southwestern corner. Some potential features can be tentatively identified within the northern area, but they are located within an area known to have been ploughed and do not relate to the features visible on the aerial photographs and were therefore dismissed as being related to recent activity.
S. Horlock (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 19th March 2017.

Sources/Archives (10)

  • <S1> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical aerial photograph. RAF/106G/UK/1634 RS 2404-2405 09-JUL-1946 (HEA Original Print).
  • <S2> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical aerial photograph. RAF/CPE/UK/1952 RP 2200-2201 25-MAR-1947 (HEA Original Print).
  • <S3> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical aerial photograph. RAF/CPE/UK/1952 RS 3201-3202 25-MAR-1947 (HEA Original Print) Original Print).
  • <S4> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical aerial photograph. RAF/82/1204 F21 0060-0061 02-JUN-1955 (HEA Original Print).
  • <S5> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical aerial photograph. RAF/58/2688 F21 0360-0361 25-JAN-1959 (HEA Original Print).
  • <S6> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical aerial photograph. OS/71216 V 0060-0061 14-MAY-1971 (HEA Original Print).
  • <S7> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical aerial photograph. Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Airmap86 44 4386148-4386149 01-AUG-1986 (Print).
  • <S8> Oblique Aerial Photograph: Oblique aerial photograph. Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service SAU BEY12 21-JUL-1986 (Print).
  • <S9> Vertical Aerial Photograph: Vertical aerial photograph. EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 03-AUG-2007 ACCESSED 18-MAR-2013 (Digital).
  • <S10> LIDAR Airborne Survey: LIDAR airborne survey. LIDAR TL7786 Environment Agency 1m DTM 01-OCT-2014.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Feb 28 2019 1:18PM

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