Archaeological monitoring and recording on land at Whiteslade Farm, Dalwood, Devon.

A programme of archaeological monitoring and recording was undertaken by Oakford Archaeology during groundworks for the construction of a permanent agricultural workers dwelling and associated works at Whiteslade Farm, Dalwood, Devon, in October 2022. A neighbouring site was excavated by Arrowhead and AC archaeology in 2014 and contained evidence for an 11th to mid-12th century small rural settlement or farmstead. The works exposed the remains of five sub-circular pits and two possible tree throws. The largest of these features, pit 108, contained large quantities of ash, charcoal and slag within its backfill, although no finds were recovered. A total of five bulk samples were retrieved and these provided two radiocarbon dates of 2050�25 (SUERC-111206) and 2033�23 (SUERC-111207), i.e. late Iron Age to early Romano-British period. Immediately to the southeast pit 116 has also been radiocarbon dated to 2029�25 (SUERC-111202), while to the south pit 106 was radiocarbon dated to 2090�23 (SUERC-111201), i.e. the late Iron Age. In addition, the analysis of the slag recovered from pits 108 and 116 suggests that this was smithing slag produced ex-situ and used in the backfilling of the two pits. It is likely therefore that the features represent late prehistoric or early Romano-British activity pre-dating the early medieval settlement to the north. The works exposed the remains of five sub-circular pits and two possible tree throws. The largest of these features, pit 108, contained large quantities of ash, charcoal and slag within its backfill, although no finds were recovered. A total of five bulk samples were retrieved and these provided two radiocarbon dates of 2050�25 (SUERC-111206) and 2033�23 (SUERC-111207), i.e. late Iron Age to early Romano-British period. Immediately to the southeast pit 116 has also been radiocarbon dated to 2029�25 (SUERC-111202), while to the south pit 106 was radiocarbon dated to 2090�23 (SUERC-111201), i.e. the late Iron Age. In addition, the analysis of the slag recovered from pits 108 and 116 suggests that this was smithing slag produced ex-situ and used in the backfilling of the two pits. It is likely therefore that the features represent late prehistoric or early Romano-British activity pre-dating the early medieval settlement to the north.