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Summary

Earthwork banks interpreted as relict field boundaries of a possible prehistoric or Romano-British field system are visible on aerial photographs taken from 1946 onwards and on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017, on a limestone plateau at East Ogwell, Ogwell.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Prehistoric field system on East Hill

Other References/Statuses

• National Record of the Historic Environment: 899408
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX87SW/60

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FIELD SYSTEM (Early Bronze Age to Roman - 2200 BC to 409 AD (Between))

Full description

GALLANT, LUXTON + COLLMAN, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV291086.

Long narrow hilltop plateau lying north/south. It descends gently to the north in banked terraces, falls as steep wooded scarp to the east and as gentle slopes to the west and south. Berry down hillfort is only 0.8km to the north. The site mainly consists of a series of subrectangular enclosures. Two of the transverse banks are 0.5m high. A few years ago part of a saddle quern of lava-like material similar to that of quernstones from berry down was found on the site, together with plain rough sherds of iron age type and an undecorated spindle whorl. Unfortunately the finder has left the area without trace (ex inf mrs d. Woolner) (gallant, luxton + collman).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV291088.

Des=gallant, l. /list of field systems/(15/11/1980)in ipplepen parish file.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV291089.

Gallant, l. + luxton, n. + collman, m. /pdas/43(1985)25/ancient fields on the south devon limestone plateau/fig 2.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV291090.

Griffith, f. /devon's past:an aerial view/(1988)45.

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV291091.

Aph=dap/ht 3-7/(23/12/1986).

Griffith, F. M., Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV8774.

The low lynchets of the fields, being stony, have survived quite well, and the modern field has not been vigorously ploughed. The survival of field systems of this type on the torbay limestone was discovered relatively recently by a group of local fieldworkers. The dating of these sites is difficult, but a date in the later first millennium bc has been suggested. Like many low earthworks, the banks of this field system are often quite hard to see, either on the ground or from the air (griffith).

GALLANT, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV943.

Field system on east hill. One of a group of thirteen possible prehistoric field systems which have been identified on the limestone in south devon. Approx.4.8 hectares in extent (gallant).

Devon County Council, 1838-1848, Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848 (Cartographic). SDV349431.

The earthworks do not correspond with any linear features in this location.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/3G/TUD/UK/223, RAF/3G/TUD/UK/223 Vp4 5283-84 12-JUL-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352279.

A series of linear and curvilinear banks is visible.

Pye, A. R. + Noble, S. + Turton, S. D., 1992, Archaeological Survey and Assessment at Greenawell Park Farm, West Ogwell, 19-21 (Report - Survey). SDV344412.

Other details: Figure 1, site 2.

Environment Agency, 1998-2017, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor, LIDAR SX8470 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017 (Cartographic). SDV361470.

A series of linear and curvilinear banks is visible.

Ordnance Survey, 2018, MasterMap 2018 (Cartographic). SDV360652.

The earthworks are visible within a single elongated land parcel.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2018-2019, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 1, Haldon Ridge to Dart Valley (Interpretation). SDV361305.

A series of earthwork banks, circa 4m in width, is visible on aerial photographs taken from 1946 onwards and on digital images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2017, on a limestone plateau at East Ogwell, Ogwell. The linear and curvilinear earthworks occupy an area of approximately 4.48 hectares, are typically northeast to southwest and northwest to southeast aligned and define a number of rectilinear shaped and adjoining enclosures, circa 70m in length and between 40-65m in width. The earthworks do not correspond with any linear features shown in this location on the mid-19th century Parish Tithe Map, or on subsequent available historic maps, nor are they in keeping with the layout of the surrounding field systems shown on these maps. Their form and character support the interpretation they represent evidence of a possible prehistoric or Romano-British field system. Located amongst the banks are a number of small sub-circular mounds interpreted as possible clearance cairns (MDV123178) which have been recorded as a separate, but associated monument.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV291086	Migrated Record: GALLANT, LUXTON + COLLMAN.
SDV291088	Migrated Record:
SDV291089	Migrated Record:
SDV291090	Migrated Record:
SDV291091	Aerial Photograph:
SDV344412	Report - Survey: Pye, A. R. + Noble, S. + Turton, S. D.. 1992. Archaeological Survey and Assessment at Greenawell Park Farm, West Ogwell. Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit Report. 92.26. A4 Stapled + Digital. 19-21.
SDV349431	Cartographic: Devon County Council. 1838-1848. Tithe Mosaic, approximately 1838-1848. Digitised Tithe Map. Digital.
SDV352279	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/3G/TUD/UK/223. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/3G/TUD/UK/223 Vp4 5283-84 12-JUL-1946.
SDV360652	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2018. MasterMap 2018. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #82443 ]
SDV361305	Interpretation: Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R.. 2018-2019. The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 1, Haldon Ridge to Dart Valley. Historic England Research Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV361470	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 1998-2017. LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: South Devon Coast to Dartmoor. Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR SX8470 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 31-MAY-2017.
SDV8774	Migrated Record: Griffith, F. M..
SDV943	Migrated Record: GALLANT.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7515 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey (Ref: ACD1748)

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