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Summary

Sixteen small structures are visible on Braunton Burrows on aerial photographs of 1945. Their function is unknown but they may be mock-up concrete obstructions known as Dragon’s Teeth or an obstacle course part of the Second World War U.S. Army Assault Training Centre on Braunton Burrows

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks and structural remains of World War II military training features for D-Day Landings on Braunton Burrows

Other References/Statuses

• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ANTI TANK OBSTACLE (World War II - 1943 AD to 1945 AD)
• MILITARY TRAINING SITE (World War II - 1943 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/LA/102, NMR RAF/106G/LA/102 5018-5019 17-JAN-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349060.

Sixteen small structures are visible.

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/LA/133, NMR RAF/106G/LA/133 5022-5023 15-FEB-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349062.

Sixteen small structures are visible.

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

Sixteen small structures are visible on Braunton Burrows on aerial photographs of 1945. The structures are arranged in five diagonal rows of three, the rows orientated north to south, with one outlying structure are the northern end. The structures are small, of indeterminate shape - possibly rectangular, possibly circular - but no larger than circa 1.5 metres across in size. The function of the structures is uncertain, but they may be mock-up obstructions such as Dragon’s Teeth, or an obstacle course possibly associated with the Engineer Demolition Range located circa 300 metres to the east, part of the Second World War U.S. Army Assault Training Centre on Braunton Burrows. Several further similar linear arrangements can be seen to the south and east on the Burrows. This group cannot be seen on the later aerial photographs available to the survey and were therefore probably removed or demolished in the years immediately after the Second World War.

Sources / Further Reading

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
SDV349060	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945. RAF/106G/LA/102. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/LA/102 5018-5019 17-JAN-1945. [Mapped feature: #61959 ]
SDV349062	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945. RAF/106G/LA/133. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). NMR RAF/106G/LA/133 5022-5023 15-FEB-1945.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4737 - Stewardship Scheme Archaeological Survey, Braunton Burrows
• EDV6132 - North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty NMP Project

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