See important guidance on the use of this record.

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

Summary

Large oval pit recorded during excavations undertaken as part of a programme of archaeological works along the route of a gas pipeline. The pit, probably a tree throw, contained 57 sherds of Earlier Neolithic pottery and 56 pieces of worked flint. The pit had been cut into by a much later pit. Carbonised plant remains from the later pit returned a 16th/17th century radiocarbon date.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• TREE THROW (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2201 BC)
• PIT (XVI to XVII - 1501 AD to 1700 AD) + Sci.Date

Full description

Joyce, S. + Mudd, A. + Collard, M., 2010, South-West Reinforcement Project, Ottery St Mary to Aylesbeare, Aylesbeare to Kenn, Fishacre to Choakford Gas Pipelines, Devon: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design Issue 2: Volume I Text, 23, 118, 127, 128 (Report - non-specific). SDV347992.

Site OTA 3.04. A large pit (3.04.096), 5 metres long, 2 metres wide and 0.75 metres deep. The primary fill contained 45 sherds of Early Neolithic pottery and 54 pieces of worked flint of comparable date. The uppermost fill contained eight sherds of undiagnostic pottery and five pieces of worked flint. A soil sample contained a few cereal grains and some charcoal.

Joyce, S. + Mudd, A. + Collard, M., 2010, South-West Reinforcement Project, Ottery St Mary to Aylesbeare, Aylesbeare to Kenn, Fishacre to Choakford Gas Pipelines, Devon: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design Issue 2: Volume II Illustrations, Fig. 19 (Report - non-specific). SDV347993.

Joyce, S. + Mudd, A. + Collard, M., 2010, South-West Reinforcement Project, Ottery St Mary to Aylesbeare, Aylesbeare to Kenn, Fishacre to Choakford Gas Pipelines, Devon: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design Issue 2: Volume III Site Gazetteer, Site OTA 3.04 (Report - non-specific). SDV347994.

Mudd, A. + Joyce, S., 2014, The Archaeology of the South-West Reinforcement Gas Pipeline, Devon. Investigations in 2005-2007, 16-17, 45-46, 58, 163 (Monograph). SDV359340.

Site 4. Pixies' Parlour. A large sub-oval pit which was initally examined within an evaluation trench (206) and then by full excavation. The pit was 5 metres long, 2 metres wide and 0.75 metres deep with an irregular profile and a concave base. The feature as a whole contained 57 sherds of Earlier Neolithic pottery and 56 pieces of worked flint including 15 possible blades. However, there is difficulty in determining the form of the original Neolithic feature as it appeared to have been cut into by a much later pit; carbonised plant remains from a charcoal-rich deposit returned a 16th/17th century radiocarbon date. The overall size and form of the pit suggests it was a tree throw in which a considerable amount of cultural material from nearby activities had been deposited. The pot sherds were of six different fabrics and included parts of rims of two carinated bowls, both characteristic of the Early Neolithic in Devon.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds

• FDV6068 - BLADE (Neolithic - 4000 BC to 2201 BC)
• FDV6067 - POT (Early Neolithic - 4000 BC to 3001 BC)
• FDV6066 - CEREAL GRAIN (XVI to XVII - 1501 AD to 1700 AD)

Associated Events

• EDV5439 - Archaeological Investigations Along Gas Pipeline, South-West Reinforcement Project

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