MEM22595 - Post-medieval mound and pit near Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (Monument)

A small mound and associated pit were noted during a non-intrustive walkover survey of the proposed mire restoration area on The Chains, undertaken by South West Archaeology as part of the Exmoor Mires Project. The mound and pit are of similar size, the pit being subcircular and located on the upslope side. This was interpreted as a post-medieval mineral extraction site. [1] The Historic Environment Officer for the Exmoor Mires Project undertook a non-intrustive walkover survey of the proposed mire restoration area on The Chains, which included this site. Noted was a small mound with a subcircular waterfilled pit on the upslope side. The mound measures 2.5 metres by 2 metres, with a height of 0.6 metres, the pit is of similar size. This may be a prospecting pit or a World War Two military feature, possibly a foxhole. This is similar in form to MEM22549 and is one of a group of five features on the western side of Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (MEM22594, MEM22596, MEM22598 and MEM22599). [2] A large scale metric survey of the Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond environs was undertaken by Hazel Riley in 2012 as part of the Exmoor Mires Project. A small rectangular hollow was seen measuring 2.5 metres north-south, 1 metre east-west and 0.7 metres deep. A sub-circular mound was present to the east side of the hollow, measuring 2.5 metres north-south, 1.5 metres east-west with a height of 0.8 metres. These earthworks lie on the northwest side of Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond. The feature is interpreted as a small trial pit, prospecting for ironstone, and dates from the mid-19th Century. [3]