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Summary

A square enclosure of possible later-prehistoric or Roman date is visible as an earthwork on the southeast facing slope to the northwest of Birchdown, Bampton parish. The enclosure and a possible annexe to the east remain clearly identifiable as earthworks on images derived from lidar data.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS92SE/59

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• SQUARE ENCLOSURE (Early Iron Age to Roman - 700 BC (Between) to 409 AD (Between))

Full description

Keene, B., Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV2098.

Vis=25/1/1986 (scott, keene + snow). Site surveyed. Enclosure partially cut into slope. Rampart still visible. Circa 50m by 40m overall. Sketch survey on worksheet. Roman military date and function tentatively suggested (keene).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV53646.

Subrectangular earthwork enclosure on hill above bampton.

Scott, E., Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV53648.

Two photographs showing the site as an earthwork in smr (scott).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV53650.

Des=worksheet + survey(keene 1986).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV53651.

Des=photos(-/3/1986)by rev j. Scott in parish file.

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV53652.

Aph=dap/ha 4-8(11/12/1986).

Griffith, F. M., Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV8774.

Could this be a civil war earthwork? site overlooks bampton castle (fmg).

Mcmanamon, T., 09/12/1991, Archaeological Sites in Bampton Area (Correspondence). SDV359000.

1. Birchdown Farm. In certain light and in light snow, a square is quite visible in the field.

Environment Agency WMS, 1998-2014, LiDAR DTM data JPEG image (1m resolution) (Cartographic). SDV359716.

Earthworks of a rectangular enclosure orientated north-east to south-west visible. The entrance appears to be in the south-west side with a possible annexe on the north-east side.

Horner, B., 2016, Enclosure at Birchdown (Personal Comment). SDV359792.

The earthwork may be Romano British in date but not military.

University of Exeter, 2020-2021, University of Exeter Unlocking Landscapes Project – validated data, ULDEV143 (Interpretation). SDV365999.

LiDAR shows earthworks of additional enclosure abutting east side of the known rectangular enclosure, hidden within woodland.

Environment Agency, 2021, University of Exeter Understanding Landscapes Project - Lidar visualisation (Cartographic). SDV366001.

Linear banks and ditches defining a square enclosure are visible as earthworks.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV9082 - Lidar Survey: University of Exeter Unlocking Landscapes Project

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