MEM24362 - Possible Mesolithic Fire Pit on Wintershead (Monument)
Summary
Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record caveat document.
Type and Period (1)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
An oval shaped pit was excavated in trench 4 during the Mires Project excavations on Wintershead. The cut measured 0.6 metres by 0.4 with a bowl shaped profile in a north to south direction, with a steeper northern side and a maximum depth of 0.3 metres. The sides of this pit show signs of intense heating and a slightly vitrified surface and 80 percent of the fill included stone and fragments of baked clay. The surrounding silt contained charcoal inclusions. The trench yielded a single burnt flake, and a 100 percent sample was taken for environmental evidence. Whilst no plant remains were identified, it did reveal further fragments of charcoal. A representative sample of these was analysed and the results indicate they were derived from mature oak trunk wood with a minimum age of 20 years. Two charcoal fragments were submitted for radiocarbon dating and returned Mesolithic dates. It is suggested that this was possibly a fire pit in use during the Mesolithic period. Other features close to this pit include possible post and stake holes, tentatively suggestion occupation. [1-4]
Sources/Archives (4)
- <1> SEM8568 Report: Bray, L.. 2013. Excavations At Wintershead, Deer Park, Exmoor, Septermber 2013.
- <2> SEM8138 Report: Challinor, D.. 2014. Wintershead, Exmoor: the wood charcoal from a burnt pit.
- <3> SEM8139 Report: Jones, J.. 2013. Assessment of bulk samples from Wintershead, Exmoor.
- <4> SEM8438 Report: Dunbar, E.. 2014. Radiocarbon dating certificate: Wintershead (EWH13) and Farley Hill (BHF14).
External Links (0)
Other Statuses/References
- None recorded
Location
Grid reference | SS 7665 3731 (point) |
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Map sheet | SS73NE |
Civil Parish | EXMOOR, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET |
Finds (2)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Record last edited
Apr 14 2021 9:41AM
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