Land at Dunkeswell Airfield, Dunkeswell, Devon: Archaeological Strip, Map and Sample Excavation

An archaeological strip, map and sample excavation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in July 2014 at Land at Dunkeswell Airfield, Devon, whereby Areas 1, 2, 3 and 4 were machine excavated. The strip, map and sample excavation identified an extensive series of sixteen pits and a ditch within Areas 1 and 3, likely to have been excavated for the extraction of iron ore nodules which are known to occur within the natural clay with flint and chert, having been previously identified on sites elsewhere within the Blackdown Hills. These features remain undated. No archaeological features or deposits were found within Areas 2 and 4. Area 4 was extended approximately 1 metre west within the north-west of the trench in order to fully investigate a linear feature found within. The linear feature was identified to be a modern land drain. The Site had recently been ploughed and a suspect Second World War UXO was identified approximately 10m east of Area 3. The suspect UXO was identified as a non-explosive practice bomblet and deemed safe for removal and removed safely by Royal Navy Bomb Disposal Unit Plymouth