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Summary

Geophysical survey recorded a group of anomalies which may represent three round houses.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1018850: Hembury Fort

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ROUND HOUSE (DOMESTIC)? (LANEBA to Late Iron Age - 2500 BC to 42 AD (Between))

Full description

Griffith, F. M. + Wilkes, E. M., 2015, Hembury, Payhembury Fort, Devon: Geophysical Survey (Report - Geophysical Survey). SDV360845.

Hembury (Payhembury) Fort is considered to be the most westerly of the ‘Wessex style’ multivallate hillforts of the first millennium BC, with earlier occupation, demonstrated through excavations in the 1930s and 1980s, as a Neolithic causewayed enclosure, and with subsequent Roman military use. It occupies a spur of Upper Greensand overlooking the Otter valley and river Tale tributary at ST 11255 03080. The non-intrusive evaluation was designed to determine the viability of two geophysical survey techniques prior to a full-scale survey. The hilltop had recently been partially cleared of dense undergrowth and trees had been thinned, so affording the first opportunity for area surveys to be conducted. Anomalies detected within the interior of the monument conform to what is known from upstanding remains and earlier reports from excavations within the hillfort as well as anomalies that may represent previously unknown archaeological features.

Two anomaly groups in a circular arrangement, one group is located immediately within the inner rampart bank (RB), the other is located to the south-east (RC). The diameter of RB is circa 15.7 metres and RC is circa 17.9 metres. The anomalies may represent drip gullies around the round houses or similar structures.

Griffith, F. M. + Wilkes, E. M., 2016, Hembury, Payhembury Fort, Devon: Geophysical Survey (Report - Geophysical Survey). SDV360861.

A sample survey to explore the potential of two geophysical survey techniques at Hembury Fort was conducted by this team in May 2015. This confirmed the usefulness of both magnetic gradiometry and earth resistance techniques within the hillfort. Vegetation clearance at the time of that survey had opened up some areas of the interior for survey, but much of it, particularly in the southern half of the site, remained inaccessible. A further survey was undertaken in 2016 when conditions were more favourable.

The earth resistance survey was undertaken over a small area in the north of the hillfort interior in order to assess whether features of Roman date excavated by Todd (1984a; 1984b; 2007) could be detected. Nine 30m x 30m squares were surveyed within the same grid as the magnetic gradiometer survey. There was some overlap with the area surveyed with this technique in 2015.

Anomaly rB comprises low resistance readings in a circular arrangement, immediately in from the inner rampart. The diameter of the circle is c. 15.7m (maximum). It is possible this may represent the drip gully around a round house or similar structure in the lee of the rampart.

Anomaly rC from the 2015 survey was not detected in 2016 as it was obscured by another anomaly group (Rm). However, rD is a further sub‐circular anomaly of low resistance readings. The diameter is circa 6 metres and, as at rB (and rC), may represent a gully around a structure. rE is of similar form (penannular; c. 5 metres diameter, see MDV12179). The locations of rB, rC, rD and rE are typical of round houses on other multivallate ‘Wessex’ hillforts (e.g., at Danebury (Hampshire) and Maiden Castle (Dorset) being in the lee of the rampart.

Map objects based on this source.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7503 - Geophysical Survey: Hembury, Payhembury Fort, Devon
• EDV7504 - Geophysical Survey; Hembury, Payhembury Fort, Devon

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