Westclyst Community Primary School, Westclyst, Devon
Cotswold Archaeology, 2017. https://doi.org/10.5284/1047218. How to cite using this DOI
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Hazel
O'Neill
Cotswold Archaeology
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Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 2957
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1047218
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with the development of sports pitches at the proposed site of Westclyst Community Primary School, Devon. The watching brief recorded one large ditch in the centre of the site, as well as a number of smaller ditch segments and pits. Dating evidence was scarce, but indicated that two of the pits were prehistoric in origin and that two of the ditches (including the large central one) were Roman in date. Previous archaeological investigations of the wider school site recorded a scattering of early prehistoric pits and a small number of Roman ditches. The archaeological features recorded by the present watching brief probably represent part of this activity. It is possible that the ditches represent the truncated remnants of a late Roman field system, and that some of the pits were associated with quarrying/extraction of the natural clay/sand substrate. Fragments of tap slag and redeposited burnt material within one of the pits were indicative of industrial activity in the vicinity of the site. However, it was not possible to date this activity.
