See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

Geophysical survey recorded anomaly groups, which may represent a round houses or similar structures.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1018850: Hembury Fort

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ROUND HOUSE (DOMESTIC)? (Late Neolithic to I - 3000 BC to 100 AD (Between))

Full description

Griffith, F. M. + Wilkes, E. M., 2015, Hembury, Payhembury Fort, Devon: Geophysical Survey (Report - Geophysical Survey). SDV360845.

Hembury (Payhembury) Fort is considered to be the most westerly of the ‘Wessex style’ multivallate hillforts of the first millennium BC, with earlier occupation, demonstrated through excavations in the 1930s and 1980s, as a Neolithic causewayed enclosure, and with subsequent Roman military use. It occupies a spur of Upper Greensand overlooking the Otter valley and river Tale tributary at ST 11255 03080. The non-intrusive evaluation was designed to determine the viability of two geophysical survey techniques prior to a full-scale survey. The hilltop had recently been partially cleared of dense undergrowth and trees had been thinned, so affording the first opportunity for area surveys to be conducted.

Close to the inner bank in the north-west corner one anomaly group (B), appears as an incomplete circular arrangement of positive point anomalies. This group may represent a round house or similar structure with a diameter of c.9.5 metres. Similarly, the group to the far east of this (B1), comprises a circular arrangement, 10 metres in diameter. It lies at the eastern end of a long linear anomaly near the inturn of the north-east entrance. Further positive point anomalies are evident across the width of the hillfort in the norther area with responses similar to those of anomalies mentioned above, but it is not possible to suggest any definite arrangement or interpretation of the points. Further high resolution survey is recommended in this area.

Griffith, F. M. + Wilkes, E. M., 2016, Hembury, Payhembury Fort, Devon: Geophysical Survey (Report - Geophysical Survey). SDV360861.

A sample survey to explore the potential of two geophysical survey techniques at Hembury Fort was conducted by this team in May 2015. This confirmed the usefulness of both magnetic gradiometry and earth resistance techniques within the hillfort. Vegetation clearance at the time of that survey had opened up some areas of the interior for survey, but much of it, particularly in the southern half of the site, remained inaccessible. A further survey was undertaken in 2016 when conditions were more favourable.

Both surveys recorded anomaly B, an incomplete sub‐circular arrangement of positive point anomalies close to the inner bank in the north west corner, that may represent a round house or similar structure with a diameter of circa 9.5 metres. A possible similar arrangement was also recorded in both surveys (anomaly B1) to the east near the entrance, with a diameter of circa 10 metres.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7503 - Geophysical Survey: Hembury, Payhembury Fort, Devon
• EDV7504 - Geophysical Survey; Hembury, Payhembury Fort, Devon

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.