Record Details
| NHER Number: | 5977 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Undated earthwork banks and ditches |
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Summary
In 1934 an earthwork comprising two concentric banks with external ditches was noted at this location. The date and function of these features were not ascertained. The earthwork is visible on aerial photographs of the area.
Images
Location
| Grid Reference: | TL 9128 8814 |
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| Map Sheet: | TL98NW |
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| Parish: | WRETHAM, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK |
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Full description
15 December 1934. In small mere on East Wretham Heath, northeast of Ring Mere and southeast of Lang Mere.
An earthwork of two concentric banks with external ditches.
Slight excavation on 17 December 1934 by R. R. Clarke (NCM) and H. T. Green.
See (S1) - plan section and aerial photograph.
R. R. Clarke (NCM).
Site measures approximately 30m diameter, maximum of 1m high. Mere dry, with old willows to west. Area grazed by sheep/rabbits.
H. Paterson (NLA) 17 June 1996.
See photographs of 1934 excavation in file.
D. Gurney (NLA) 22 February 2003.
November 2010. Norfolk NMP.
The earthwork comprising two concentric banks with external ditches of unknown date mentioned above is visible as a earthwork on aerial photographs (S2-S8), along with a third wide bank surrounding it. At least part of the earthwork may be a natural geological feature, but has been mapped due to its unique appearance and the fact that the excavation revealed a man made bank and a series of postholes. The features are centred on TL 9128 8814 and the banks measure 12m and 21m internally, 18m and 30m externally. They are surrounded by two concentric ditches, up to 2m in width, and a large, irregular outer bank, up to 15m in width and 75m in external diameter. The man made features may represent an augmentation to the existing mere in the post medieval period.
E. Bales (NMP), 19 Nov 2010.
Monument Types
- EARTHWORK (Unknown date)
- ENCLOSURE? (Unknown date)
- RING DITCH? (Unknown date)
- RING DITCH? (Bronze Age - 2350 BC? to 701 BC?)
- ENCLOSURE? (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD? to 1900 AD?)
Associated Finds - none
Protected Status
Sources and further reading
| --- | Designation: [unknown]. Ancient Monuments Form. SAM Record. NHER5977. |
| --- | Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TL 98 NW 4 [4]. |
| --- | Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. |
| --- | Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Miscellaneous. Wretham, East. |
| <S1> | Article in Serial: Clarke, R. R. 1938. An Iron Age Hut at Postwick and an Earthwork on East Wretham Heath, Norfolk. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XXVI Pt III pp 271-280. pp 277-280. |
| <S2> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1945. RAF 106G/UK/378 4012-3 13-JUN-1945 (NMR). |
| <S3> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF 3G/TUD/UK/59 5138-9 05-FEB-1946 (NHER TL9187A-9187B). |
| <S4> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF 3G/TUD/UK/59 5256-7 05 FEB-1946 (NMR). |
| <S5> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. RAF CPE/UK/1801 3100-1 25-OCT-1946 (NMR). |
| <S6> | Oblique Aerial Photograph: CUCAP. 1954. CUCAP (OX30-1) 11-AUG-1954. |
| <S7> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1958. RAF 58/2522 PO-0043-4 23-JUL-1958 (NMR). |
| <S8> | Vertical Aerial Photograph: The Norfolk and Norwich Aero Club. 19XX. The Norfolk and Norwich Aero Club Ltd 911 XX-XX-19XX (NHER TL9188A). |
Related records - none
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