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Summary

Geophysical survey recorded an anomaly group which corresponds with the alignment of Roman remains excavated in 1984.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BUILDING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD (Between))

Full description

Todd, M., 1984, Excavations at Hembury (Devon) 1980-3; A Summary Report (Article in Serial). SDV135872.

Two large Roman buildings were identified, each laid out around a central courtyard (Buildings 2 and 3). The open plan of the west range of Building 2 and the fact that many of the rooms in the other ranges were small suggests that this was not a domestic building, a fact borne out by finds of iron slag and pieces of a tuyere. This suggests the building was a fabrica. The second courtyard building (Building 3) lay to the west in the centre of the hillfort. Only part of its north and east sides were examined but the most notable features were the wide and deep foundation trenches and the carefully laid metalled surface in the east range. Trodden into the surface were many hobnails and fragments of high quality glass. Two denarii were also found. Two foundation trenches of another Roman buildings (Building 4), were found to the south-west of the fabrica (the corner of Building 1 was uncovered during the 1930s exavations). Evidence indicates that when the Roman army left the hillfort their buildings were deliberately dismantled.

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.

What appears as a 'spur' running westwards from the line of a possible former trackway (see MDV121093), corresponds very well with the alignment of Roman remains excavated in Todd's Trench 3 (1984a; 1984b). It is likely therefore that this feature dates from the Roman military use of the hillfort

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

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

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