Evaluation at Land at SX 694 477 Court Barton, Aveton Gifford, Devon

This work was undertaken in accordance with current best practice, CIfA guidelines and a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) (Boyd 2024) drawn up in consultation with the Devon County Historic Environment Team (DCHET). Any desk-based assessment aspect of this report follows the guidance as outlined in: Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment (CIfA 2020a) and Understanding Place: historic area assessments (Historic England 2017). The archaeological evaluation follows the guidance as outlined in: Archaeologists Standards and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluation (CIfA 2020b) and Standard and Guidance for an archaeological Watching Brief (CIfA 2020c). The evaluation trenches were laid out across the site, avoiding standing trees and targeting features identified by the GPS survey, located across the footprint of the proposed structures and areas likely to be disturbed by the proposed development (see Figure 5). The coordinates for the ends of each excavated trench can be found in Appendix 3. Eight evaluation trenches, totalling c.87m, were excavated across the site. These targeted anomalies identified on the previous GPR survey and general site coverage. In the southern part of the site the evaluation revealed four ditches, and an area with a spread, an associated posthole and a possible stakehole. The spread contained one sherd of probable Romano-British pottery and the ditches either contained or were associated with Romano-British pottery and a struck flint; all the Romano-British pottery was small and abraded, indicating it was residual. A large number of post-medieval and modern drains crossed this part of the site. In the northern part of the site the evaluation revealed modern made ground and the concrete slab for a yard area associated with structures along the lane shown on historic mapping. This area appears to have been terraced and built up and it is likely that any archaeological features will have been truncated or destroyed. Given the results of this evaluation, it is recommended that as part of any planning conditions for proposed development of this site that further archaeological monitoring would be appropriate. It is felt that a strip, map and sample (SMS) exercise, of an area of perhaps c.10m� area around the north half of Trench #1 and the south-east end of Trench #3, with the option to extending depending on results, would determine relationships, extent and provide adequate dating of the identified archaeological resource/features. However, the location and line of overhead cables may limit the extent of investigation.