Monument record MRM 126 - Possible field system of unknown date, visible as cropmarks.

A possible ditched field system of unknown date is visible a cropmarks on aerial photographs, to the south of Martlesham Lodge, Martlesham parish, centred roughly on TM256466. The visible possible boundaries form a large square or rectangular field circa 180 by 120 metres in size. It is on roughly the same alignment as the extant field boundaries, but the organisation of the fields appears to be of different character; for example, a possible cropmark boundary extends from the south-east corner of the enclosure at circa 45 degrees. If these cropmarks are the remains of a field system, they likely predate the current field system, which is probably post-medieval in origin, but some time, possibly originating in the later prehistoric period. It may be associated with cropmarks complexes to the west and southeast (MRM 125, MRM 026), but this cannot be determined from the aerial photographs alone. An alternative which must be considered is that these cropmarks are non-archaeological in origin; the angle of join between the cropmarks described above is reminiscent of geological frost cracking. A pipe trench of probably modern date can also be seen crossing this field from the north-west to south-east. (S1)