A380 South Devon Link Road, Kingskerswell, Devon
AC Archaeology Ltd, 2016. https://doi.org/10.5284/1037866. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © AC Archaeology Ltd, John Valentin unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
Primary contact
Charlotte
Coles
AC Archaeology Ltd
4 Halthaies Workshops
Bradninch
Exeter
EX5 4LQ
Devon
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 2255
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1037866
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
Archaeological investigations along the route of the A380 South Devon Link Road, Kingskerswell, Devon, were undertaken by AC archaeology between October 2012 and June 2013. All works were carried out in advance of construction of the bypass and comprised the excavations of an important prehistoric and multi-phase Romano-British enclosed settlement site and associated remains at Aller Cross, medieval and post-medieval buildings at Edginswell Lane North, survey and recording of earthworks and hedgebanks affected by the route, recording of historic non-listed buildings and structures and palaeo-environmental work in the valley bottom adjacent to Aller Brook and Edginswell Stream.
In addition, a number of trial trenches were excavated along the route of the scheme, which confirmed that there were no hitherto unrecorded in situ and important archaeological remains that were likely to be affected elsewhere. At the prehistoric and multi-phase Romano-British enclosed settlement site at Aller Cross occupation spanned the Middle Iron Age to throughout the Romano-British period. It was most intensively occupied in the latter period, with at least four phases of modification to the main enclosure ditches recorded. The site was enlarged during the 2nd to 3rd century AD with the addition of an outer enclosure. There was only limited survival within the internal area, but the quality, range and quantities of finds recovered indicates that a building of some status must have once been present. Excavations at Edginswell Lane identified two buildings; one originating in the medieval period and the other of post-medieval date. The earlier building was an agricultural building and had three phases of construction, going out of use in the post-medieval period. The second building was a house, probably built and occupied during the 18th century with little evidence to indicate that its use continued into the 19th century. It is a type of small rural house which was probably common in Devon until the 19th century.
