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Summary

Geophysical Survey recorded an anomaly group which appears as a curving arc and suggest possible soil fills of cut features.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1018850: Hembury Fort

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PIT? (Unknown date)
• QUARRY? (Unknown date)

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.

In the southern area, the sampled area was more contrained by vegetation cover of trees, scrub and bracken. Anomaly I is in one of the small open areas: it is a roughly circular anomaly circa 3.0 metres diameter. It lies to near the end of another anomaly (J) (see MDV121065), a curving arc circa 17 metres long comprising positive responses. Such responses suggest magnetically enhanced material, possibly soil fills of cut features. These anomalies are outside the excavated areas

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 southern area of the hillfort was transformed between the two surveys by the removal of trees, bracken and scrub that had impeded the coverage of the earlier survey. The southern tip was excavated by Liddell (1931; 1932; 1934) which may account for the rather 'noisy' responses in that area.

The sub‐circular point anomaly (I), circa 3.0 metres diameter, recorded in 2015 was also present in the results of the 2016 survey and the possibility remains that anomaly I represents an infilled pit or quarry scoop. The nearby anomaly J from 2015 was not recorded in 2016.

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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