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Summary

A number of tree-throw pits and postholes containing pieces of prehistoric worked flint and chert were revealed during excavations at Island Farm prior to development. Several gullies located nearby also contained flint and may relate to a prehistoric field system.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• GULLY (Prehistoric - 698000 BC to 42 AD)
• PIT (Prehistoric - 698000 BC to 42 AD) + Sci.Date

Full description

Hayes, C., 2016, Land at Island Farm, Ottery St Mary, Devon. Archaeology Assessment Report and Updated Project Design, 17-20 (Report - Excavation). SDV360260.

A number of tree-throw pits were revealed in Area 3 during excavations on land at Island Farm prior to development. The excavation area was targeted on features containing prehistoric material revealed during an earlier evaluation. The pits contained worked flint and chert suggesting their use as working hollows or for the deposition of waste flakes. In particular, 89 pieces of flint and chert were recovered from tree-throw pit 28051 in addition to the 20 pieces found during the evaluation. A bladelet from another pit (28063) is dated to the late Mesolithic period. Prehistoric flint was also recovered from two postholes (28029 and 28065). Posthole 28029 was cut into the fill of three-throw pit 28022. A carbonised hazelnut shell from this posthole returned a calibrated radiocarbon date of 7057-6779BC but it may be residual. A broken, burnt flint blade from the same posthole may also be residual. Posthole 28065 contained five pieces of worked flint and chert. It was cut by a later, but undated posthole.
Several gullies (S, T and U) may relate to a possible prehistoric field system. A prehistoric flint scraper was found in Gully T, and a flint blade and flake from Gully S. Although no finds were recovered from Gully U it was similar in form and on alignment with Gully T.
See report for full details.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds

• FDV6539 - TOOL (Prehistoric - 698000 BC to 42 AD)

Associated Events

• EDV7296 - Excavation on Land at Island Farm, Ottery St Mary (Ref: CA 9175)
• EDV5876 - Evaluation on Land at Island Farm, Ottery St Mary (Ref: 12021)
• EDV6361 - Archaeological Evaluation on Land at Island Farm (Ref: CA 4576)

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