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HER Number:MDV37471
Name:Ring Ditch to south-east of Nettacott Cross, Upton Pyne

Summary

A ring ditch of probable later prehistoric date was visible on aerial photographs of the 1980s onwards as a cropmark on the south-east facing slopes at Nettacott Cross.

Location

Grid Reference:SX 899 991
Map Sheet:SX89NE
Admin AreaDevon
Civil ParishUpton Pyne
DistrictEast Devon
Ecclesiastical ParishUPTON PYNE

Protected Status

  • SHINE: Prehistoric barrow and ring ditch with lined ditches south east of Nettacott Cross

Other References/Statuses

  • Old DCC SMR Ref: SX89NE/79

Monument Type(s) and Dates

  • RING DITCH (Prehistoric - 698000 BC to 42 AD)

Full description

Griffith, F. M., 1984, DAP/AY, 12 (Aerial Photograph). SDV96554.

Ring ditch, about 40m diameter, with lined ditches to north and south. Recorded as cropmark in June 1984.

English Heritage, 1984, NMR 2163, NMR 2163/0114-0116 02-JUL-1984 (Aerial Photograph). SDV357051.

A cropmark ring ditch was visible.

Griffith, F. M., 1989, DAP/NC, 1, 2 (Aerial Photograph). SDV339523.

Geonex UK, 1992, 117/92, Devon County Council Geonex/117/92 237 07-JUL-1992 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359186.

A cropmark ring ditch was visible.

Horner, B., 1992, DAP/VO, 14-16 (Aerial Photograph). SDV122355.

Robinson, R., 1992, Devon Post-Reconnaissance Fieldwork Project, Photo S37). (Site Visit). SDV106434.

Site visit 13th January 1992. The site lies in a level field above the flood plain and is visible as a low ploughed out mound 30-40m diameter, under 1m high, with a faint trace of a ditch.

Young, A., 2005, Transcriptions from Winkleigh Biomass Plant National Mapping Programme (NMP) project (Cartographic). SDV321540.

The transcriptions correspond to the grid reference for PRN166303.

Young, A. & Turner, S., 2005-2006, North Devon/Winkleigh Biomass Plant National Mapping Programme (NMP) project database records, PRN166303 (Interpretation). SDV358473.

A circular ring ditch, 34m in diameter, is visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs (p1-2). A cropmark mound, 16m in diameter is situated within the enclosure (p3). The remains of two possible external ditches are visible in the north; it is possible that these marks however are the result of geological changes below ground level that are showing as cropmarks. A further feature to the east of the ring ditch is a double ditched hedge or track, that runs from W-E and abuts the external ditch. This group of features have been digitally plotted as part of the National Mapping Programme.
Photograph reference:
1. DCC DAP/AY 12 04-JUL-1984
2. DCC DAP/VO 14-16 10-JUL-1992
3. OS OS/88059 014-6 25-MAR-1988

Hegarty, C., 2015, Comment arising from, but not part of, the East and Mid Devon NMP survey (Personal Comment). SDV359210.

A ring ditch of probable Bronze Age to Roman date was visible on aerial photographs of the 1980s onwards as a cropmark on the south-east facing slopes at Nettacott Cross. The cropmark is slightly irregular in width but appears to define a ditch measuring between 1 to 3 metres wide. The ditch encloses an area approximately 30 metres in diameter. No break in the cropmark that could be interpreted as an entrance was noted. A slightly darker irregularly shaped cropmark circa 13 metres across was visible enclosed within the ring ditch, which could be interpreted as disturbed ground perhaps associated with a ceremonial function.
The linear features recorded by the above authority were probably a combination of cropmarks of geological and alluviual origin and a former field boundary of probable post medieval date, and as such have not been transcribed.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2017-2018, Backlog recording of the Winkleigh National Mapping Programme Survey (Personal Comment). SDV360588.

There are two transcriptions for this monument, one derived from the Winkleigh NMP project and one from the East and Mid Devon Rivers Catchment NMP project, which are offset by approximately 7m. It is likely the East and Mid Devon NMP transcriptions is the more accurate.
The linear features described in this record by Young & Turner and Hegarty have been recorded as a separate monument, MDV121912.

Devon County Council, 2019, Google Earth Aerial Photograph Pilot Project, GE38 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363341.

(SX 89905 99184) Ring ditch and linears south of Nettacott Cottage. Ring ditch (MDV37471) and linears (MDV121912) visible on the Google Earth 2018 aerial images. Boundaries depicted on the Tithe map are evident in this and surrounding fields. Further linears (not natural) are evident in this and surrounding fields.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV106434Site Visit: Robinson, R.. 1992. Devon Post-Reconnaissance Fieldwork Project. Devon Post-Reconnaissance Fieldwork Project. Worksheet. Photo S37)..
SDV122355Aerial Photograph: Horner, B.. 1992. DAP/VO. Devon Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). 14-16.
SDV321540Cartographic: Young, A.. 2005. Transcriptions from Winkleigh Biomass Plant National Mapping Programme (NMP) project. Digital. [Mapped feature: #111366 ]
SDV339523Aerial Photograph: Griffith, F. M.. 1989. DAP/NC. Devon Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). 1, 2.
SDV357051Aerial Photograph: English Heritage. 1984. NMR 2163. English Heritage. Photograph (Paper). NMR 2163/0114-0116 02-JUL-1984.
SDV358473Interpretation: Young, A. & Turner, S.. 2005-2006. North Devon/Winkleigh Biomass Plant National Mapping Programme (NMP) project database records. Cornwall Council Report. Digital. PRN166303.
SDV359186Aerial Photograph: Geonex UK. 1992. 117/92. Geonex Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). Devon County Council Geonex/117/92 237 07-JUL-1992.
SDV359210Personal Comment: Hegarty, C.. 2015. Comment arising from, but not part of, the East and Mid Devon NMP survey.
SDV360588Personal Comment: Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R.. 2017-2018. Backlog recording of the Winkleigh National Mapping Programme Survey. Not Applicable.
SDV96554Aerial Photograph: Griffith, F. M.. 1984. DAP/AY. Devon Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). 12.

Associated Monuments

MDV121912Related to: Linear features, Nettacott Cross, Upton Pyne (Monument)

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

  • EDV7455 - Winkleigh Biomass Plant National Mapping Programme

Date Last Edited:Nov 8 2024 10:15AM