Site Event/Activity record EEM14547 - 2015: GPR,MS,RS - Challacombe Common

Challacombe Common is host to a number of prehistoric monuments including cairns, standing stones and barrows with a significant grouping of the latter known as the Chapman Barrows. At the eastern end of these is Longstone standing stone and, beyond that, the Longstone Barrow, the largest barrow within this study area. The survey used detailed magnetometer (fluxgate gradiometer), earth resistance, and ground penetrating radar (GPR). The first area investigated a rectilinear earthwork and denuded barrow. The rectilinear earthwork appears to have structural elements associated with it and evidence for occupation. A low platform to the northeast may have been associated with livestock management. The barrow has a central funerary feature and encircling ditch. The second area was another denuded barrow with an encircling ditch. It was difficult to ascertain whether there was a central funerary feature as one quarter of the monument produced very little response. No internal structure was identified. The final survey area over the Longstone Barrow produced the most striking results. The ditch was shown to be cut into non-magnetic subsoils or geology. A ‘shoulder’ on the flanks of the mound has been assumed to indicate that the monument was constructed in two phases and the resistance data seem to confirm this.