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Summary

At least three extensive areas of peat cuttings, visible as cropmarks of differential vegetation growth and some earthwork pits, are visible on aerial photographs from 1946 to 2001. The pits are aligned along the narrow ridge and furrow that covers the moor, and presumably post-date modern deep ploughing for drainage. Earthwork remains of th cuttings may survive below the vegetation cover.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1017139: Ring cairn and bowl barrow 540m south west of Higher Welsford
• Scheduled Monument 1019257: Three bowl barrows and one bell barrow on Bursdon Moor situated 670m north east of Lutsford Cross
• Scheduled Monument 1019257: Three bowl barrows and one bell barrow on Bursdon Moor situated 670m north east of Lutsford Cross
• Scheduled Monument 1019085: Round barrow cemetery 920m south west of Higher Welsford

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PEAT CUTTING (XVIII to Mid 20th Century - 1751 AD to 1946 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

Bursdon Moor is symbolised as open unimproved land.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158, DCC RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158 5184--5185 19-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349143.

Two main areas of probable peat cuttings are visible as cropmarks of irregularly shaped pits, and there are some outlying pits.

Royal Air Force, 1959, RAF/58/2984, NMR RAF/58/2984 F22 0030-0031 30-JUN-1959 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349064.

The peat cutting pits are clearly visible with well-defined egdes.

Ordnance Survey, 1978, OS/78038, NMR OS/78038 308-309 10-MAY-1978 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349082.

The peat cuttings are visible as cropmarks with diffuse edges.

Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photography, 2001, CUCAP ZknLQ, CUCAP ZknLQ 0074 22-JUN-2001 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349638.

A complex of pale, subrectangular cropmarks are visible, aligned in an irregular grid pattern.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S., 2011-2012, North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV349018.

At least three main areas of peat cuttings, visible as cropmarks of differential vegetation growth forming over irregular pits, are visible on aerial photographs from 1946 to 2001. Some outlying pits at SS26232027, SS26602013 and SS26892036 are visible as earthworks in 1959 but not later aerial photographs, and the edges of the pits are much less distinct on the 1978 aerial photographs, as the vegetation growth increased. The pits are aligned along the narrow ridge and furrow that covers the moor, and presumably follow the lines of the furrows and therefore post-date modern deep ploughing for drainage. Earthwork evidence of the cuttings may survive below the vegetation cover.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV349018	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S.. 2011-2012. North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. ACD383/2/1. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV349064	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1959. RAF/58/2984. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/58/2984 F22 0030-0031 30-JUN-1959. [Mapped features: #61775 ; #61776 ]
SDV349082	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1978. OS/78038. Ordnance Survey Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR OS/78038 308-309 10-MAY-1978.
SDV349143	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). DCC RAF/3G/TUD/UK/158 5184--5185 19-APR-1946.
SDV349638	Aerial Photograph: Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photography. 2001. CUCAP ZknLQ. Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photography. Photograph (Paper). CUCAP ZknLQ 0074 22-JUN-2001.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project (Ref: ACD383/2/1)

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