Monument record LUD 017 - Cropmarks of later prehistoric or Roman field system

Rectilinear cropmark system adjacent LUD 012 (CRN 01790) ring ditch noted on SAU AP 1977 (S1).

January 2014. Lothingland, Lowestoft and North Suffolk Coast and Heaths National Mapping Programme.
The cropmarks of a co-axial field system of unknown, but probable late prehistoric and/or Roman date, are visible on aerial photographs (S1-S5). The site is centred on TM 5167 9883. This field system would appear to be a continuation of – or at least the same broad phase as - the much more coherent coaxial system to the immediate west at Park Farm (SOL 010). The two sites have been split into two records for the ease of recording and to try and reduce the overall size of records relating to large disparate spreads of field systems. It is felt that the two areas of fields represent two parts of the same broadly contemporary landscape. Other less extensive and more fragmentary field system sites to the south, for example COR 033, BLN 047, may represent parts of the same phase of fields and trackways. It is also felt that the ditch and bank boundaries to the north (LUD 050) are likely to represent part of the same system, where the orientation has altered, potentially in a response to typography and the water course to the north and/or a contemporary landscape feature or change in land use – as the boundary ditches appear to be curving up to the northeast to meet the northern counterparts.
The main characteristic of these sites overall is a series of broadly parallel fragmentary trackways and linear boundaries, with a grid pattern of fields (or paddock and/or enclosures) in-between. However within the area recorded under this site (LUD 017) the trackways are less apparent, although fragments are visible in places. The fields are located in the area of a number of ring ditches, for example LUD 012 and LUD 039, which are most likely to represent the remains of round barrows, however it is also feasible that they could relate to later prehistoric domestic enclosures and could be broadly contemporary with the surrounding enclosures and fields.
It is not possible within the current project scope to attempt to refine the phasing of these fragmentary and overlying field systems. Very distinct areas representing a different phase have been recorded separately where possible, for example boundaries oriented the same or similar to the modern field layout have been grouped into LUD 018.
S. Horlock (Norfolk Historic Environment Service), 15thJanuary 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 (S6) for further details.
S. Tremlett (Norfolk County Council Environment Team), 21 March 2023.