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Summary

Geophysical survey recorded a number of anomalies which may represent partly natural deposits but could also indicate the presence of pits, postholes and scatters of burnt debris.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• IN SITU BURNT DEPOSIT (Early Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 2200 BC? to 42 AD?)
• PIT (Early Bronze Age to Roman - 2200 BC? to 409 AD?)
• POST HOLE (Early Bronze Age to Roman - 2200 BC? to 409 AD?)

Full description

Bartlett, A. D. H., 2016, Sherford New Community, South Hams, Devon, Geophysical Surveys 2014-2015 (Report - Geophysical Survey). SDV361797.

This report is intended to accompany a full graphical presentation of the data and findings from a series of geophysical surveys undertaken in 2014-15 as part of a programme of archaeological investigations at the proposed Sherford New Community site near Plymouth, Devon.

The investigations were carried out in three phases, which each provided results which have previously been supplied as plans, extracts and summaries. The present report includes much of the content of the report on the 2014 survey (with some additional retrospective comments), and also includes similar accounts of the 2015 investigations.

The geophysical surveys have detected numerous archaeological sites and features, which in total are distributed broadly in accordance with previously recorded archaeological findings within the evaluation area. Archaeological activity is most concentrated towards the north and west of the site, but various preciously unknown earthwork features and enclosures were identified elsewhere.

Area 1 (Priority fields; fields 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 24)
The density of background activity (as indicated by small magnetic anomalies outlined in brown in
figures 5-7) is particularly high in fields 8, 23-24, and the southern part of field 11. This variation may be partly natural or geological (and could reflect the proportion of gravel in the drift deposits), but could also be consistent with the presence in these areas of additional small archaeological disturbances (pits, postholes, scatters of burnt debris) which are difficult to resolve individually.

Area 3 (Fields south of priority area; fields 13-23, 25-28)
Ditches and enclosures of probable archaeological relevance are visible throughout this area, but findings are most concentrated in field 23, where trench 1 was excavated in 2006. Findings here included pits and post holes, and the survey has additionally detected various ditch-like linear markings (as well as strongly defined historic field boundaries), and a possible circular feature at 23A. Excavations here since the 2014 survey have identified additional features (as was noted in the comment on field 24 above).

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8078 - Geophysical Survey: Sherford New Community, South Hams

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