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Cropmark
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Cropmarks appear as light and dark marks in growing and ripening crops. These marks relate to differences in the soil below. For example, parched lines of grass may indicate stone walls. Crops that grow over stone features often ripen more quickly and are shorter than the surrounding crop. This is because there is less moisture in the soil where the wall lies.
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Aerial Photograph
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Aerial photographs are taken during an aerial survey, which involves looking at the ground from above. It is usually easier to see cropmarks and earthworks when they are viewed from above. Aerial photographs help archaeologists to record what they see and to identify new sites. There are two kinds of aerial photographs; oblique and vertical.
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Prehistoric
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About 500,000 BC to 42 AD
The Prehistoric period covers all the periods from the Palaeolithic to the end of the Iron Age.
This is a time when people did not write anything down so there is no documentary evidence for archaeologists to look at. Instead, the archaeologists look at the material culture belonging to the people and the places where they lived for clues about their way of life.
The Prehistoric period is divided into the Early Prehistoric and Later Prehistoric.
The Early Prehistoric period covers the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods.
The Later Prehistoric period covers Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age times.
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Iron Age
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About 800 BC to 43 AD
The Iron Age comes after the Bronze Age and before the Roman period. It is a time when people developed the skills and knowledge to work and use iron, hence the name ‘Iron Age’ which is given to this period. Iron is a much tougher and more durable metal than bronze but it also requires more skill to make objects from it. People continued to use bronze during this period.
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Roman
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About 43 AD to 409 AD (the 1st century AD to the 5th century AD)
The Roman period comes after the Iron Age and before the Saxon period.
The Roman period in Britain began in 43 AD when a Roman commander called Aulus Plautius invaded the south coast, near Kent. There were a series of skirmishes with the native Britons, who were defeated. In the months that followed, more Roman troops arrived and slowly moved westwards and northwards.
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BARROW *
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Artificial mound of earth, turf and/or stone, normally constructed to contain or conceal burials. Use specific type where known.
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HOUSE *
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A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known.
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PALISADE *
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An enclosure of stakes driven into the ground, sometimes for defensive purposes.
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SITE *
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Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible.
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SETTLEMENT *
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A small concentration of dwellings.
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CIRCULAR ENCLOSURE *
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A circular shaped area of land enclosed by a boundary ditch, bank, wall, palisade or similar barrier.
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RECTILINEAR ENCLOSURE *
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A monument consisting of an area of land enclosed by a ditch, bank, wall, palisade or similar barrier, where the barrier consists of several straight or near straight sections.
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FEATURE *
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Areas of indeterminate function.
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DITCHED ENCLOSURE *
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An area of land enclosed by one or several boundary ditches. Double index with a term to indicate the shape of the enclosure where known.
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RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE *
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A rectangular shaped area of land enclosed by a boundary ditch, bank, wall, palisade or similar barrier.
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GULLY *
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A deep gutter, drain or sink.
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FARMSTEAD *
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The homestead of a farm consisting of a farmhouse and working farm buildings, with yards, other working areas and usually a garden to the house.
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PIT *
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A hole or cavity in the ground, either natural or the result of excavation. Use more specific type where known.
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LINEAR FEATURE *
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A length of straight, curved or angled earthwork or cropmark of uncertain date or function.
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SUB CIRCULAR ENCLOSURE *
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A monument consisting of an area enclosed by a ditch, bank, wall, palisade or similar barrier, where the barrier follows a circular course, but is not regularly laid out.
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GALLOWS *
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A structure used for execution by hanging. Usually two uprights and a cross-piece, from which the offender is suspended by the neck.
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ENCLOSURE *
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An area of land enclosed by a boundary ditch, bank, wall, palisade or other similar barrier. Use specific type where known.
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RING DITCH *
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Circular or near circular ditches, usually seen as cropmarks. Use the term where the function is unknown. Ring ditches may be the remains of ploughed out round barrows, round houses, or of modern features such as searchlight emplacements.
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TRENCH *
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An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both.
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DITCH *
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A long and narrow hollow or trench dug in the ground, often used to carry water though it may be dry for much of the year.
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ROUND *
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A small, Iron Age/Romano-British enclosed settlement found in South West England.
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STORAGE PIT *
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A pit dug in the ground used to store meat, grain and other foodstuffs. A common feature of Iron Age farms.
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FARM *
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A tract of land, often including a farmhouse and ancillary buildings, used for the purpose of cultivation and the rearing of livestock, etc. Use more specific type where known.
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DOMESTIC *
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This is the top term for the class. See DOMESTIC Class List for narrow terms.
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* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)
