Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Location

Full description

1977-1980. Aerial Photography and Air Photo Interpretation.
Identified in Norfolk Archaeological Unit aerial reconnaissance (S4).
Cropmarks of several ring ditches (NHER 49687, NHER 45032, NHER 45028, NHER 45029, NHER 45030), enclosures (NHER 45018) and possible Roman temple (NHER 45036).
These features were originally recorded under NHER 12137, but were separated into the records noted above in 2006. This record now details the Roman Temple.
A crop mark plot was compiled for this area ( See drawing (S5) and slide (S6)), and and was published in East Anglian Archaeology (S7) to accompany a summary of the site.
Information is recorded in HER Record Card for NHER 12137 (S1) and is repeated in Ordnance Survey Record Cards (S2) and HER Record Notes (S3).
Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 14 January 2025.

July 2001. Air Photo Interpretation.
Examination of NLA air photography dated 02 July 1996 (S8).
Cropmarks of three ring ditches (NHER 45032), Roman temple site (NHER 45036) and rectilinear enclosures (NHER 45018) all still visible. Large example double ringed hengiform monument.
These features were previously recorded under NHER 12137.
S. Massey (NLA), 23 July 2001. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 14 January 2025.

September 2006. Norfolk NMP.
The cropmarks of a Roman temple are visible on aerial photographs to the north of Aldeby Vicarage (S9-S14). The site consists of a circular Romano-Celtic temple or cella within an enclosure or temenos. Surface finds of Roman date and fragments of imported dolomite stone have been found in the vicinity of the temple, see NHER 12137 for details. The temple is located just above the 10m contour on land overlooking a tributary valley running north from the main Waveney Valley and therefore would have been quite visible when approached along the valley. This religious site is located on the eastern edge of enclosure complex of unknown definite date (NHER 45018), although a Roman date is possible given the appearance of the cropmarks. As Romano-Celtic temples of this type are generally constructed in the earlier Roman period, then it is possible that the enclosure complex could represent a later Roman reworking of the site, although this is not certain. These larger enclosures could equally be medieval to post medieval in date.

The inner cella is visible as a circular negative cropmark 18m in diameter, with an entrance to the north. The cropmarks created by the former walls are 1.5m across. A possible second, outer wall or foundations is possibly visible around the northeastern side of the temple in 1977 (S12). It is possible that this is spread of demolition material. Several other negative anomalies are visible within the temple and one to the southeast and again these may be areas of stone or possibly the remains of additional structural components. A narrow ditch is visible around the exterior of the cella wall. Also visible within the interior of the temple in 1977 is an oblong positive cropmark. This may represent the location of an internal feature or sunken area. A slightly curvilinear ditch joins the outer wall of the cella to the west.

The circular cella is located within a square ditched enclosure or temenos, 38m across. This has a rectangular recessed area to the west, 17m by 7m. Traces of wall along the back of this recessed area may be indicated by an elongated negative cropmark. This enclosure appears to sit within a larger, but incomplete rectangular enclosed area, approximately 65m by 90m. Some of the ditches associated with this outer enclosure follow slightly different alignments and may represent several phases of ditches or additions to the site. One of them butts up to the trackway leading to the enclosure complex to the west (NHER 45018) and therefore may represent a transitional period between the two sites. It is equally possible that the possibly continuation of this ditch has been masked by the later trackway, potentially through disturbance of the ground or compacting of the ground.
S. Massey (NMP), 01 September 2006.

Monument Types

• RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD?)
• SQUARE ENCLOSURE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD?)
• TEMPLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD?)
• TRACKWAY (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD?)

Associated Finds - none

Protected Status

• SHINE

Sources and further reading

Related records - none

Find out more...

• Parish Summary: Aldeby (Parish Summary)