MEM22596 - Post-medieval mound and pit near Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (Monument)

A small mound and 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, with the pit being subcircular, water filled and located upslope from the mound. 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 measuring 2.5 metres by 2 metres, with a height of 0.6 metres; an associate pit is present on the upslope side, of a similar size and filled with water. May be a prospecting pit or a World War Two military feature, possibly a foxhole. This is similar to MEM22549 and is one of a group of five features on the western side of Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (MEM22594, MEM22595, 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, with an associated sub-circular mound on its east side. The hollow measured 2.5 metres north-south, 1 metre east-west and 1 metre deep; while the mound measured 3.5 metres north-south, 3 metres east-west and was 1.2 metres high. These lie on the northwest side of Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond. This is interpreted as a small trial pit, prospecting for ironstone, and dates from the mid-19th Century. [3]