Any idea what these strange markings are?

Simon,

This question arose on another site and I took a trip out there, nothing really to be seen at ground level, however we did note that these sites had fencing round them and there were signs saying about shooting parties so maybe pheasant enclosures?

Also the oval ones:

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=52.913279&lon=-0.51982&z=16.6&r=0&src=ggl

Notice the strips of land near them too?

Maybe another trip out there is on the cards, also they’re not HAA sites, however this is:

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=52.913279&lon=-0.51982&z=16.6&r=0&src=ggl

The HAA link:

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?p=1221557#post1221557

Yep, when viewed under greater magnification definitely older archaeology than my original suggestion. There’s lots of ploughed-out Bronze Age barrows in the vicinity but the size of these particular features does, I think, rather go against that possibility. For another uninformed guess, how about Anglo-Saxon or Medieval farming features ?

They look like archaeology to me.

They’re not perfectly round – check for yourself at a higher magnification on Google Maps!

There are a number of Bronze Age burial grounds close to Ropsley (visible on the picture above, oval shaped marks slightly to the East of the “circles”). Perhaps the circular features have something to do with these?

At a quick guess, and knowing nothing about the subject, maybe barrage balloon or AA gun site ? They definitely ain’t natural.