Land North of Tencreek Farm, Liskeard, Cornwall - Archive Report

The archaeological works consisted of three Stages of investigation (Stages 1-3), which were undertaken in advance of the construction of residential dwellings and associated infrastructure. Stage 1 geophysical survey covered an area of 7.13 ha, whilst Stage 2 trial trenching covered an area of 4.91 ha within the development boundary. Stage 3 targeted excavation included an area of 0.32 ha within the Stage 2 area. The Stage 2 trial trenching comprised 28 trenches that extended across three arable fields, whilst Stage 3 was a single excavation area that targeted the centre of the Stage 2 area within a single arable field. The archaeological investigations at Tencreek Farm provided evidence for use of the site during the Middle Bronze Age period (Phase 1), and a second, unrelated stage of occupation during the Romano-British period in the form of a Cornish Round (Phase 2), which most likely represented a small, defended farmstead. The Middle Bronze Age (Phase 1) remains included a single gully, which contained multiple fragments from a single ceramic vessel amongst other Bronze Age pottery sherds. The decoration and rim form of the vessel was typical of Middle Bronze Age Trevisker Ware, which is commonly found throughout Cornwall and Devon, and is dated to c.1500-1100 BC. The sherds displayed limited abrasion indicating they had been deposited directly into the gully, perhaps indicting associated domestic settlement was located nearby. The Middle Bronze Age gully had been cut by the Phase 2 Romano-British features. The Cornish Round bears many similarities to the Trethurgy Cornish Round, which has been described as the 'classic' type site for such features. The Tencreek Round was first constructed as a small, enclosure defined by a single ditch (Phase 2a), which was subsequently backfilled, with part of the original circuit recut when the larger, double ditch enclosure was constructed (Phase 2b), which represented a more recognisable Cornish Round form. The location of the Phase 2b Round clearly demonstrated knowledge of the earlier Phase 2a enclosure, suggesting it was a development undertaken by the same community. Structural development of Cornish Rounds during their use is not uncommon, but the two clear phases of the Tencreek example appears to be unique. The ceramic evidence recovered from the fill of both Phases (2a and 2b) of the settlement suggested a period of occupation from the late 1st to the early 2nd century AD, suggesting construction and modification of the settlement occurred during a relatively short period of time. The economic base of the Romano-British settlement at Tencreek appeared to be that of a small pastoral farmstead, with some evidence for food processing and, albeit limited, access to regional markets. Finds were few, but these included animal bone suggesting cattle were kept, and a stone mortarium fragment was perhaps used for processing cereal. The presence of a spindle whorl indicated textile production, specifically spinning, was also undertaken at the settlement, and an assemblage of heat affected natural stone indicated the presence of at least one hearth. The lack of further finds, such as metal objects and imported coarse or fine wares known to have been available during the Roman period, most likely suggests that the community was not high status and had limited means to access higher value items in regional markets. However, the recovery of South-Western Black Burnished Ware demonstrates the inhabitants of the Round had trade connections to East Devon and the means to acquire this type of vessel.