See important guidance on the use of this record.

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

Summary

Possible prehistoric enclosures to the northeast of Elburton, identified through geophysical survey. One is visible as a dark curvilinear soilmark under excavation on aerial photographs taken in 2017.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CURVILINEAR ENCLOSURE (Early Bronze Age to Late Iron Age - 2200 BC? to 42 AD? (Between))

Full description

Best, J., 2006, Archaeological Fieldwalking and Trial Trenching for the Proposed Sherford New Community Development, 2-4 (Report - Excavation). SDV340475.

Prehistoric material was recovered from the field surrounding these feature during fieldwalking including several tools and cores. Other details: Figures 3 & 4.

Smalley, R. A. J., 2006, Land near Plymouth, 7 (Report - Geophysical Survey). SDV340487.

Two curvilinear anomalies may represent a Prehistoric enclosure with other features identified within the enclosure. Further anomalies in the field to the south may represent bank and ditches. Other details: Sites 6 & 7.

Scott Wilson, 2006, Sherford New Community: Environmental Statement, Table 9.1.1 (Report - Assessment). SDV340472.

Possible Bronze Age enclosures identified by geophysical survey. Other details: Site 95.

Jack, S. + Steadman, S., 2007, Sherford New Community: Environmental Statement - Cultural Heritage, Table 9.6 & Figure 9.2 (Report - Assessment). SDV340474.

Ditched enclosure. Other details: Site 95.

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 2 (Fields north of priority area; fields 2, 6-8)
Field 6 contains ditches or enclosures (intersected by a land drain), which may indicate a continuation of the probable settlement features around 8B in field 8. The curving ditch 6A corresponds to map reference 95 in the DBA, and is listed as a possible Bronze Age enclosure. Other ditches may extend into fields 2 and 9.

Google, 2019, Google Earth Pro, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 23-SEP-2017 ACCESSED 04-FEB-2020 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363088.

A dark curvilinear cropmark is visible.

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.

A curvilinear dark soilmark, approximately 1.5 metres wide, is visible apparently under excavation on aerial photographs taken in 2017. It is not visible on earlier available aerial imagery. From what is visible of the topsoil-stripped area, it can be interpreted as the ditch of a prehistoric enclosure.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4380 - Assessment for Sherford New Community
• EDV4381 - Geophysical Survey for Sherford New Community
• EDV4383 - Fieldwalking Survey of Proposed Sherford New Community Development
• EDV8078 - Geophysical Survey: Sherford New Community, South Hams
• 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.