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Summary

Archaeological investigations recorded features which represents a Bronze Age Round House.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ROUND HOUSE (DOMESTIC) (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Dean, R., 20/05/2015, Land adjacent to Lyte Lane, West Charleton, Devon (Report - Geophysical Survey). SDV359255.

Geophysical survey undertaken as supporting information for a fourthcoming planning application.

Anomaly groups 12 and 40 have broadly similar patterns to that of group 10. Given this and the presence of a barrow cemetery, it is a strong possibility that these groups represent ploughed-out barrows although this can only be confirmed by further archaeological investigations.

Bampton, J., 2016, Lyte Lane, West Charleton, South Hams: Evaluation (Report - Evaluation). SDV361114.

South West Archaeology Ltd. (SWARCH) was commissioned to undertake an archaeological evaluation in advance of a proposed housing development in May 2016. This phase of work builds upon a previous geophysical survey undertaken over and near to the proposed development area in 2000 (Johnson 2000) and 2014 (Dean 2014), and field work including field-walking and excavation in 2000 (Bayer 2000). The results of this evaluation will inform the planning decision and the extent and nature of any subsequent programme of archaeological mitigation required as a condition of a planning consent.

A total of 105 potential features were identified, including 40 stakeholes within a probable Middle Bronze Age roundhouse.

Trench 5 was located to target a large sub-oval positive anomaly and a linear positive anomaly. It contained two linear ditches, [532] and [535], one of which equated to the linear geophysical anomaly and Roundhouse [507], which was defined by a platform cut, [504] and possibly a retaining wall {503}. Associated with the roundhouse were four large postholes and four additional postholes , a compacted spread, (514) and 40 stakeholes.

The roundhouse is regionally classed as a ‘Middle Bronze Age sunken featured roundhouse’. At c.6.20+ metres wide between the structural postholes this example is at the smaller end of the spectrum for a typical roundhouse in the south-west of England, which vary in size to between 6 metres and 15 metres. Recent investigations along the south-coast in Devon and predominantly by excavation in Cornwall by SWARCH have revealed Bronze Age roundhouses between c.6 metres and 11 metres in diameter. The roundhouse was comprised of a circular hollow, the fill of which sealed all of the internal features. This hollow seems to have been dug into a platform or terrace cut into the slope. The internal features included four large postholes in a semi-circle at c.1.8 metres intervals, each with an adjacent smaller posthole, divot or stakeholes. Although the evaluation trench only revealed the north half of the roundhouse, the interior included a compacted area that may have been a floor surface; a posthole that morphologically was very different to the main structural posts and may have been used for a less substantial support or have in fact been a pit; a shallow pit that contained the base of a Bronze Age cooking vessel; and a frequent number of stakeholes that transect the roundhouse. These stakeholes may have been associated with internal divisions or structures. The exterior posthole to the west of the roundhouse may indicate outbuildings or structures (fences) associated with the roundhouse survive near to it.

The retaining wall consisted of three large quartz stones in a line approximately 0.53 metres below the surface, within the matrix of the subsoil. Whether this is associated with a structural element to the roundhouse or an example of the series of stony patches in apparent linear formations and associated with possible boundaries across the site is unclear.

Four large oval postholes formed the primary structural post-ring for the roundhouse; [509], [511], [515] and [518]. Posthole [509], contained a single very large stone and a single fill. Posthole [511], contained three fills; the lower fill (537), contained occasional charcoal flecks at the base of the posthole. Posthole [515] contained three fills: the lower fill contained very occasional charcoal flecks at the base of the posthole. Posthole [518]
contained three fills.

Four additional, smaller, oval postholes associated with the roundhouse were [521], [523], [528] and [530]. Posthole [521] contained a single fill: (522). Posthole [523] only survived as an ephemeral base of a posthole or pit. It contained a single fill: (524), a mid grey-brown, friable clay-silt with moderate charcoal flecks. Posthole [528] only survived as a truncated feature on the cut slope of the roundhouse. It contained a single fill: (529). Posthole [530] was located to the west of the roundhouse and only survived as a base. It contained a single fill: (531).

Other, internal features to the roundhouse include a spread, a pit and stakeholes. Spread (514), was a patch of compacted natural with dark grey-yellow stony material slightly off-centre, northwards, of the roundhouse and may indicate a surviving floor surface. It appeared to have been cut by Posthole [523]. Pit [525], extended from the edge of the trench and appeared to be sub-oval in plan with a very gentle east slope and a moderately steep west slope. It contained a single fill: (526). It contained ×1 fragment (28g) of a flint pebble, broken in half and the base, ×25 sherds of a Bronze Age storage jar, sat on the base of the cut. It was either cut by or cut a stakehole at its eastern end.

Forty stakeholes were associated with the roundhouse. These all varied between 0.03m and 0.10m in diameter and between 0.025m and 0.05m deep with near vertical sides and pointed bases and all contained single fills of mid grey-yellow, friable silt-clay with occasional shillet fragments. The stakeholes were concentrated between Postholes [511], [515] and [523]. They had a series of possible linear patterns; from Posthole [511] to between Posthole [523] and Pit [525], aligned northeast by south-west; a possible double row, aligned north-south, running south from the east side of Posthole [515]; an east-west line running through Spread (514); and some stakes near to the east side of the roundhouse cut [507] and between postholes [515] and [518].

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6853 - Geophysical Survey, Land adjacent to Lyte Lane, West Charleton, Devon (Ref: 140516)
• EDV7533 - Evaluation: Lyte Lane, West Charleton, South Hams (Ref: 160703)

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