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HER Number: | MDV121150 |
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Name: | Possible Post holes, Hembury Hillfort |
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Summary
Geophysical Survey recorded a cluster of anomalies that may represent large post holes or pits.
Location
Grid Reference: | ST 113 031 |
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Map Sheet: | ST10SW |
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Admin Area | Devon |
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Civil Parish | Payhembury |
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District | East Devon |
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Ecclesiastical Parish | PAYHEMBURY |
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Protected Status
Other References/Statuses: none recorded
Monument Type(s) and Dates
- POST HOLE? (LANEBA to Roman - 2500 BC to 409 AD (Between))
Full description
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.
Anomaly P runs in an arc from the NE entrance into the hillfort for circa 135 metres towards the northern central bank and ditch (anomaly U). This is a likely route for the path / track leading into the hillfort from the entrance as it encountered the least variation in elevation along its line. The interpretation of a track or path is supported by the alignment of this feature with the trend in the foundations of “substantial and well‐planned” timber Roman military buildings as excavated by Professor Todd (1984a, 261; 1984b; see Figure 10 and rL below). What appears as a 'spur' running westwards from the line (P1, see MDV121094) corresponds very well with the alignment of Roman remains excavated in Todd's Trench 3 (1984a; 1984b). It is likely therefore that this feature dates from the Roman military use of the hillfort.
Much of the line of anomaly P was in the area that was not able to be surveyed in 2015 due to the density of scrub and tree growth. The line also marks the boundary of different responses in the magnetic survey, the area to the west being rather more 'noisy' compared with the area to the east of the line. There is no difference in the vegetation either side of the line but the ground slopes down more to the east and is generally more level to the west of this line.
Anomaly rL is a linear arrangement of low resistance readings. It was detected for c. 80 metres from the north of this survey area and corresponds directly to anomaly P in the magnetic gradiometry survey. The earth resistance results support the interpretation that this is the route of the path / track running from the east entrance of the hillfort. Further, the alignments of Roman military structures excavated by Todd (1984a; 1984b; see rG above) respect the line of this route.
Sources / Further Reading
SDV360861 | Report - Geophysical Survey: Griffith, F. M. + Wilkes, E. M.. 2016. Hembury, Payhembury Fort, Devon: Geophysical Survey. Digital. [Mapped feature: #111997 ] |
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Associated Monuments: none recorded
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events
- EDV7504 - Geophysical Survey; Hembury, Payhembury Fort, Devon
Date Last Edited: | Jun 21 2018 10:06AM |
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