Site Event/Activity record EEM14449 - 2012: WB - Barlynch Cottage

A watching brief was undertaken while a narrow trench was excavated adjacent to an existing wall at Barlynch Cottage to allow the insertion of new piping. The trench was located within a field to the north and west of the property and followed the line of the wall at a distance of approximately 1.7m from the wall. The depth of the trench was approximately 1 metre. No obvious archaeological features were observed during groundworks. The area to the north of the wall was very overgrown and wet. Once excavated the trench began to fill with water in this area. At the north east area of the wall, where it turns the corner several very large blocks of stone were removed by mechanical digger. These were lying within the trench area, the largest measuring 50 x 70 x 35 centimetres. There was no evidence for any worked faces or carving to any of the pieces of stone removed from the trench. The stone removed was photographed and images deposited with ENPHER. Within the trench along the east wall, in line with the area of a gate some lime mortar and bone was visible within the excavated section. The bone appeared to be animal rib and there were several lumps of lime mortar of varying size. It was suggested by Rob Wilson-North that this area may have been a midden. A separate sketch plan of the area was drawn.