MEM23940 - Post-medieval prospecting cut on the eastern side of Burcombe (Monument)

A water and vegetation filled linear cut approximately 20m long, aligned north-south was noted by Cornwall Council during a walkover survey of Western Emmetts and Burcombe. It is of a variable width, up to 4.m but mostly narrower. There is a linear spoil dump on the downslope (east) side 3.5 m wide and up to 0.7m high. The spoil heap is cut by an east-west feature, probably a drainage ditch, close to its northern end. Despite the width of the linear cut the presence of spoil suggests that this is not a peat cutting; the limited quantity of spoil, however, indicates a prospecting trench rather than a smallopenwork. It is likely to be of a post-medieval date, probably associated with the nearby Blue Gate Mine, active between c. 1835 and WW1 (MMO602). [1] A linear prospecting cut and spoilbank, situated north of another smaller prospecting cut (MEM23941) was noted during a follow-up walkover survey. This may relate to mining of Iron Ore recorded on Burcombe, but there is a degree of uncertainty of this by the Mires Officer. [2]