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West Yeo Farm, Witheridge
Notes on Fieldwalking week beg 2 October 2009
During 3 days in October members of NDAS, joined by members from Tiverton Archaeological Society and ACE Archaeological Society, fieldwalked Long Park, a field at West Yeo Farm, Witheridge.SS9144 15083
Methodology
An area of 22 grids x 20m2 was walked in total (see
diagram). Each grid subdivided into 2m wide strips and finds collected
at the end of each row.
Weather; mostly dry, warm.
Soil conditions: cultivated, stony, light red soil, dry, patches of orange and grey clay. Finds taken from the surface only, as oat seed already planted. Bedrock close to surface (4 – 5”) at southern edge of field.
Finds:
Initial observations: not much flint found in first row (A), mostly poor
quality flint, grey, mottled, chunks of broken flint – probably
“waste”. Very little pottery/china, until eastern edge of
field (downward slope), where modern/19th century pottery/glass bottle
ends etc found.
A few clay pipe stems, including one glazed and decorated.
On the second day some better quality flint flakes found. Field has been
limed at some time. Some slag and a small amount of coal.
Brown “coppery” pebbles similar to those found in New Close.
A significant amount of “silver” coated pebbles, some with
yellow glaze. (Discussion with the farmer; glaze is ash glaze, from high
temperature firing.) Source: unknown – needs further investigation.
Red coloured tiles – roof? Plus small piece of tile with black glaze
(floor tile?)
1 stone tile with hole at edge (?roof tile).
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Post fieldwalking:
Finds washed, bagged and recorded. Flint tools photographed. See flint
list (includes scrapers, cores, blades, flakes, 1 microlith). Examined
by Ann Plummer, thought to be transitional – late Mesolithic into
early Neolithic but more work needs to be done to clarify.
Flints logged onto database, and distribution chart created.
Flints: 77% Waste, 10% debitage, 1.1% cores, 2.5% tools
The amount of flint waste was felt to be too large than expected for waste
brought in with straw. There is a possibility it was brought in either
for drainage or for manufacturing purposes (pottery?)
Note: No burned flints found yet in Long Park , compared with a significant amount of burned flint in New Close.
Stones: Several hand sized light coloured stones (?hammerstones/rubbing
tools).
Brown stones – lozenge–shaped stones (whetstone?, leatherworking
tools?)
“Silver” metallicized pebbles – to be investigated
Small stones with yellow glaze drip - to be investigated
1 white glass bead
Some post-med North Devon pot
Modern pottery (19th century) including white glazed, blue and white glazed,
coloured ND ware
1 sherd medieval (13-15th century North Devon tempered ware)
Glass; thin, flat,clear
Bottle glass; + 2 small pointilles
Metal: Iron nails, spike, bolt, piece of strip lead. Horseshoe from heavy
horse. Copper alloy object (head of pin?)
Concrete ? – 2 pieces
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Summary
Almost 50% of the field was walked; it is intended to revisit the site
in March 2010 to complete the whole field. Further historical research
to be carried out to establish if there was any pottery manufacturing
activity in the area to explain the glaze drip on stones found in the
field, also the apparent burning of pebbles to produce metallicized effect.
Stones to be shown to a geologist.
Thanks to all who took part, to Kate and Robert the landowners, NDAS
members, Tiverton Archaeological Society and ACE Archaeology Society,
and Ann Plummer for valuable flint identification. Also to Paul Madgett
for help with geological identification.
Derry Bryant
August 2009