Source/Archive record SEM7763 - Archaeological excavation at Hawkcombe Head, Exmoor National Park

This report describes the archaeological excavation undertaken during September 2011 by Archaeological Research Services Ltd at Venn Combe, Hawkcombe Head, Exmoor National Park, West Somerset. The work was commissioned by Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Service (ENPHES) on behalf of the Exmoor Moorland Landscape Partnership, and in response to the planned undergrounding of cables by Western Power Distribution. Targeted excavation was focused on geophysical anomalies in an area where Mesolithic features have previously been recorded. The excavations comprised three dispersed trenches. Trenches 2 and 3 produced no archaeological remains or features of note. Trench 1 contained a high density of chipped flint tools and debitage of Late Mesolithic date, along with an occupation surface. An environmental sample from the occupation surface recovered a fragment of hazelnut shell which was dated to the Mesolithic period.