NHER 68455 (Monument record) - Medieval to post-medieval ditches

April 2014. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site.
A number of weakly-enhanced north-north-east to south-south-west and west-north-west to east-south-east aligned linear anomalies towards the southern end of the field are likely to represent infilled ditches, although the majority correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the Yelverton tithe map (S1). An extensive north-to-south aligned linear anomaly corresponds with the line of the Holverston/Yelverton parish boundary. This feature had been previously identified as a cropmark on aerial photographs (part of a group of probable medieval to post-medieval field boundaries recorded as NHER 52397). Other responses of potential archaeological interest include a large discrete anomaly in the centre of the field that may represent an area of pits, hearths or buried debris. A strongly-enhanced area to the south is though likely to represent a spread of modern ferrous debris. This anomaly is enclosed on three sides by a weakly enhanced curvilinear feature, although they are not necessarily related.
Groups of closely spaced linear anomalies recorded in several location are likely to represent the traces of past cultivation.
Other anomalies are probably geological in origin.
Information from report uploaded to OASIS. HER copy awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 August 2024.

June 2014. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potential impact of proposed development.
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 August 2024.

June 2014. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
A total of eight trenches were excavated at this location, the majority of which were positioned to target the linear anomalies identified by the preceding geophysical survey. Despite many of these anomalies being associated with known former field boundaries the majority were found to have no corresponding sub-surface remains. The exceptions included a west-north-west to south-south-east anomaly in the south-east corner of the site that was found to be associated with a ditch that contained a single medieval pottery sherd. The one other ditch recorded corresponded with the north-to-south aligned anomaly crossing the central part of the site. As noted above this feature is associated with the Holverston/Yelverton parish boundary.
Trenches positioned to coincide with the possible cluster of discrete anomalies in the centre of the site and a possible curvilinear anomaly to the south all revealed nothing of archaeological interest.
Unstratified finds included a potentially Mesolithic/Early Neolithic flint blade, a number of undiagnostic prehistoric flint flakes and fragments of burnt flint.
Information from report uploaded to OASIS. HER copy awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 August 2024.