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Summary

Five ring ditches, probably part of a linear barrow cemeter, dated to the Early/Middle Bronze Age by pottery and radiocarbon dating.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BARROW CEMETERY (Bronze Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between))
• RING DITCH (Bronze Age - 2200 BC (Between) to 701 BC (Between)) + Sci.Date

Full description

Randall, C. + Orellana, J., 2023, Prehistoric, Roman and Early Medieval Landscapes at Hayes Farm: Excavations at Exeter Logistics Park, 39-86; Figs 1-16; Tables 1-5 (Article in Serial). SDV366041.

Features dating to the Bronze Age mainly related to five ring ditches, probably the remnants of a series of barrows. Ring ditches 1 to 5 occurred in Areas 2 and 3, and evaluation Trench 8. Two of these, ring ditch 3 (Area 3) and ring ditch 4 (Area 2) were known previously, having been excavated in 1987 (MDV10081 and MDV43218), but were re-exposed, confirming the dimensions previously described.
In Area 3, roughly 10m south of ring ditch 3, the recent excavation recorded another probable barrow ditch, ring ditch 2. This had been previously noticed as a cropmark, seen as a geophysical anomaly and was recorded in evaluation trench 14 in 2019. Ring ditch 2 was not completely exposed, as its north-eastern edge lay immediately outside the excavation era/phase. Early/Middle Bronze Age pottery was recovered from the upper fill along the northern part of its circuit, including sherds from three different Trevisker-related vessels. A charred sloe stone from the upper fill of ring ditch 2 was radiocarbon dated and produced date in the transitional later Middle to Late Bronze Age.
About 80m south-west of ring ditch 4 in the south-western part of Area 2 was ring ditch 1. This had not been identified by the geophysical survey. The overall dimensions, complete circuit of the ditch and similarity of profile to the other ring ditches favour a Bronze Age date, although it contained no datable material other than a single, probably intrusive, Romano-British pot sherd. About 40 south-east of ring ditch 4, a crop mark was examined in evaluation Trench 8 and the feature designated as ring ditch 5, which contained Bronze Age pottery. This area was not covered by the 2020 excavation so the feature has not been seen in plan, so it is unclear if there were any other features associated with it.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV9088 - Excavation at Exeter Logistics Park (Phase 2), Hayes Farm, Clyst St. Mary

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