See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

A ditch defined rectilinear enclosure of possible later-prehistoric date is visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs of 1989 on the south-east-facing slopes south of Great Stert, Sparkwell.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Complex of sub-rectangular enclosures of probable prehistoric date south of Great Stert

Other References/Statuses

• National Record of the Historic Environment: 1024172
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX55NE/174

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV148894.

Aph=dap/od8 (27/7/1989).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV148895.

Des=dprfp 1992 (and photo u 19a).

DPRFP, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV262469.

Three sides of rectilinear single ditched enclosure with rounded corners at nw and ne. Length ew 80m. Recorded as cropmark in 1989 by f. Griffith (aph). Vis=9/3/1992 (robinson) site lies on a moderate e slope just below the hill top. No visible earthworks (dprfp).

Devon County Council, 1989, DAP 6772, DAP 6772/06-08 12-JUL-1989 (OD) (Aerial Photograph). SDV358870.

Enclosures are visible as cropmarks of ditches.
Many of the aerial photographs consulted are copies of DAPs held by the Historic England Archive. These have been recorded here as separate sources as there is a possibility that variations in processing could result in images on which archaeological features show differently than on the original images.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2019-2020, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (AI&M, formerly NMP) (Interpretation). SDV362982.

Cropmarks of ditches up to circa 3m wide are visible on aerial photographs of 1989 on the south-east-facing slopes south of Great Stert, Sparkwell, defining three sides of a rectilinear enclosure up to circa 70 across. Two curved corners are visible defining the northern edge of the enclosure. No evidence of southern corners could be identified.
Subtle cropmarks might define a smaller rectilinear enclosure circa 35m across within the larger enclosure.
Roughly south-west to north-east aligned linear cropmarks might define further, less regular enclosure and possible field boundaries immediately to the south of the rectilinear enclosures. It is possible that these defined the southern limit of the rectilinear enclosure.
The cropmarks might be evidence of one or more phases of enclosure of later prehistoric date.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8098 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey, Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (Ref: ACD2040)

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.