Fragments of a lowland landscape: Archaeological Investigations at Old Park Farm, Pinhoe, 2009-2014

A programme of archaeological investigation, including geophysical survey, trial trenching and excavation, was undertaken between 2009 and 2014 in advance of development at Old Park Farm, Pinhoe. Scattered prehistoric, Roman, medieval and later features were found over 7.4 ha of the 19.7 ha development site. Dating evidence was sparse, but earlier prehistoric activity was represented by flintwork, particularly in the eastern part of the site. A few pits contained evidence of probable Middle Bronze Age occupation. In the north-western area, part of what appears to have been an oval double-ditched enclosure was probably of later Iron Age date, running into the Roman period. There were Roman ditches in the southcentral area, although the probable focus of Roman settlement was taken out of the development. Medieval pottery came from ditches in the same area as the Roman ones, and there was more widespread post-medieval activity in the form of ditched enclosures probably relating to Old Park Farm itself, a building with likely medieval origins.

2009年至2014年间，为配合皮诺（Pinhoe）老帕克农场（Old Park Farm）片区的开发项目，研究团队开展了包含地球物理勘探（geophysical survey）、试掘探沟（trial trenching）与考古发掘（excavation）在内的考古调查工作。本次开发用地总面积19.7公顷，其中7.4公顷范围内发现了分散分布的史前、罗马时期、中世纪及后世遗存遗迹。测年证据相对匮乏，但史前早期活动以燧石制品为典型代表，该类遗存集中分布于场地东部区域。少量坑穴中出土了疑似中青铜时代定居活动的遗存证据。场地西北区域发现一处疑似椭圆形双壕沟围沟的遗存，其年代大概率为铁器时代晚期，并延续至罗马时期。场地中南部区域存在罗马时期壕沟，不过罗马聚落的核心区域未被纳入本次开发范围。中世纪陶器出土于与罗马遗存同区域的壕沟中，中世纪后的活动分布更为广泛，表现为带壕沟的围场遗存，这类遗存大概率与老帕克农场本身相关——该建筑的起源可追溯至中世纪时期。