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Summary

Burrow close. Possible barrow site.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: ST20NW/68

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BARROW (Prehistoric - 698000 BC to 42 AD (Between))

Full description

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV126861.

Emafu report/89.16;2.11.1.(fig 4 no 16).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV126862.

Des=tithe map/(1840).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV126863.

Des=worksheet/(goodyer,afu,1990).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV126865.

Simpson, s. J. /archaeological assessment of sww yarcombe and upottery pipeline/(1993)2/(emafu report 93.55).

Simpson, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV18634.

Name may refer to opencast pits associated with iron extraction (simpson).

GOODYER, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV99167.

Burrow close. Possible barrow site - the field will be affected by road widening. There is little likelihood of early medieval activity so the burrow/barrow is more likely to be prehistoric (goodyer).

Foster, K. + Skinner, R., 01/2016, A30 to A303 Honiton to Devonshire Inn Improvement Scheme, Honiton, Devon (Report - Assessment). SDV359378.

DBA undertaken along a corridor associated with the A30/A303 between Honiton and Devonshire Inn. This study is intended to inform the development of options for improvements to the A30/A303 between Honiton and Devonshire Inn.

The earliest, extensive evidence for prehistoric monumentality in the Blackdown Hills dates from the Early Bronze Age as the region contains a considerable number of round barrows. Barrows usually consist of round mounds of earth or stone often with related, sometimes complex archaeological deposits and usually have surrounding ditches (Field, 2011). They often contain evidence for ritual deposition and burial within the fabric and can be sometimes found in large groups or spread out across whole regions forming ‘barrow landscapes’ (Bourgeois, 2013). They were built from the late-Neolithic through to the Early-Middle Bronze Age and are found in various locations but frequently occupy prominent positions. Barrows are known from across the Blackdown Hills where they are commonly found on the greensand ridge tops and plateau with a number of notable ‘cemeteries’. The frequency of barrows across the Blackdown Hills suggests greater local populations than the preceding Neolithic however, as is common for the Early Bronze Age very few settlement sites are known suggesting a population that was still highly mobile.

Within the Site there are no definite known barrows. There are a number of fields named on Tithe Map Apportionments (dating from the mid-19th century) that have names that suggest the possibility of barrows being present or having had been present within or close to these locations. During the Site walkover survey the place-name sites were visited as best as possible.

Burrow Close’. This field was under arable cultivation at the time of the walkover survey and no evidence for a barrow in this location was observed. The fields to the west of this field were subject to geophysical survey in 1994. The survey recorded a possible circular ditch with a diameter of approximately 25 metres with a possible, large central pit. It also recorded weak indications of at least two other smaller curvilinear elements and another possible circular ditch. The large circular ditch was investigated with test pits (Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit, 1994). The pits recorded a shallow ditch with iron tap-slag located beneath a layer of chert at the base of the ditch. This suggests that the feature does not represent a barrow ring ditch but rather a later feature associated with iron working.

Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit, 1992 - 1993, Blackdown Hills Survey Archive (Archive - Survey). SDV324187.

Vis=21/9/1992 (simpson and noble) there are no visible earthworks in this field.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6910 - Desk Based Assessment, A30/A303 Honiton to Devonshire Inn Improvement Scheme, Honiton, Devon (Ref: 111160.01)

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