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Summary

Three phase hearth recorded during an archaeological evaluation on land adjacent Langage Energy Park, Plympton.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• HEARTH (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 701 BC (Between))

Full description

Hughes, S. + Valentin, J., 04/2008, Land adjacent Langage Energy Park, Plympton, Devon (Report - Evaluation). SDV359573.

An archaeological trench evaluation on land adjacent to Langage Energy Park, Plympton, Devon, (centred at SX 573 561), was undertaken by Exeter Archaeology between February and April 2008. The work comprised the machine excavation of 54 trenches. Trenches were generally excavated to target a series of geophysical anomalies which were thought to represent evidence for later prehistoric to post-medieval settlement and agricultural activity, as well as areas of burning that could relate to industrial processes. The trenches took place over several fields, Fields A to M.

Field J, T47
The three phase hearth feature was located within shallow sub squared cut 4742, which measured 3.3 metres long and 2.54 metres wide, with concave sides and a flat base.

Phase I
The first phase of burning activity comprised a 0.12 metre thick layer of abundant charcoal with fired clay flecking located towards the south of cut 4742. The layer had evidence of insitu burning with corresponding heat-affected natural subsoil on the base. Overlying burnt layer 4745 was a light brownish grey clayey silt accumulation layer (4748) that was cut by the second phase hearth cut (4751). Accumulation layer 4748 contained a single sherd of Bronze Age pottery. Charcoal from 4745 has been sent for radiocarbon dating and the results will be submitted as a supplementary statement to this report.
Phase II
Hearth cut 4751 had a circular shape in plan and was 0.76 metre in diameter and 0.1 metre deep. It had concave sides and a flat base. The cut was filled with pale yellow silty clay (4750) forming the hearth base. A ring of mixed sub-angular quartz and limestone pieces surrounded the cut. Hearth base 4750 was sealed by a mid brown clayey silt accumulation layer (4746) that measured 0.24 metre thick and was cut by the third phase hearth (4719).

Phase III
Hearth cut 4719 also had a circular shape in plan that measured 1.5m in diameter and was 0.15 metre deep. It had a steep-sided and flat-based profile. A re-deposited eroded slate rich deposit (4747) lined the northeast side of the cut. At the base of the cut, a lining of flat sub angular limestone pieces (4741) was present. Stone lining 4741 was largely reddish in colour, the result of burning. Partially overlying stone layer 4741 was a pale yellow, scorched silty clay deposit (4720), which had been applied in layers to the outer edge of hearth cut 4719. Clay lining 4720 formed a perimeter ring of the hearth, with stones 4741 exposed in the middle. The central area of the hearth was filled with a pinkish grey silty clay (4721), which had been heat affected.

Accumulation deposit 4746 was sealed by a further deposit (4729), which was in turn cut by a rounded pit (4744). The pit measured 0.9m wide and 0.22m deep, with moderately sloping sides and a concave base (Fig. 12.3). It was filled with a mid brown silty clay (4743). No finds were recovered.

Ordnance Survey, 2016, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV359352.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds

• FDV6217 - SHERD (Bronze Age - 2200 BC to 701 BC)

Associated Events

• EDV6958 - Evaluation, Land adjacent Langage Energy Park, Plympton, Devon (Ref: 08.25)

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