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Summary

Curvilinear boundary on the top of Knowle Hill may fossilise part of a later prehistoric hilltop enclosure. A linear earthwork bank visible on aerial photographs between 1945 and 1992 may have formed part of a defensive circuit.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Prehistoric curvilinear enclosure north east of Matford Barton

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• CURVILINEAR ENCLOSURE (Early Iron Age to Roman - 700 BC to 409 AD (Not applicable))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

Curvilinear boundary shown on 19th century map around the west, south and east sides of the top of Knowle Hill.

Royal Air Force, 1945, RAF/106G/UK/865, RAF/106G/UK/865 RVp1 6044-6045 30-SEP-1945 (Aerial Photograph). SDV355699.

A linear earthwork bank is visible.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 RP 3252-3253 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

A linear earthwork bank is visible. Map object partly based on this source.

Ordnance Survey, 1992, OS/92196 V, OS/92196 V 086-087 14-JUN-1992 (Aerial Photograph). SDV355002.

A linear earthwork bank is visible. Map object partly based on this source.

Ordnance Survey, 2009, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV341569.

Curvilinear boundary present on modern mapping.

Richards, A., 2009, Untitled Source (Personal Comment). SDV343386.

This curvilinear boundary on three sides of the top of Knowle Hill may represent the existance of a Prehistoric hilltop enclosure.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2014-2015, East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV356883.

A broad earthwork bank, up to circa 7.5 metres wide, is visible on aerial photographs taken between 1945 and 1992; on later available aerial photographs the ground surface is obscured by scrub growth. The bank is aligned along the contour, and perhaps once formed the north-east side of the otherwise curvilinear field parcel on the very top of Knowle Hill. This has been tentatively suggested to mark the location of a prehistoric hilltop enclosure, and an earthwork bank here could have formed part of a defensive circuit. However further work would be required to ascertain the character and survival of this bank, as it is possible that this could be, at least partially, of geological origin.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV341569	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2009. MasterMap. MasterMap. Digital.
SDV343386	Personal Comment: Richards, A.. 2009.
SDV352504	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1412. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/1412 RP 3252-3253 13-APR-1946.
SDV355002	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1992. OS/92196 V. Ordnance Survey. Photograph (Paper). OS/92196 V 086-087 14-JUN-1992.
SDV355699	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1945. RAF/106G/UK/865. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/865 RVp1 6044-6045 30-SEP-1945.
SDV356883	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2014-2015. East and Mid Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6530 - The East and Mid-Devon Rivers Catchment NMP project (Ref: ACD613)

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