MEM22594 - Post-medieval mound on The Chains (Monument)

A small mound was visible during field investigation in 2012. This may be a prospecting pit or a World War Two military feature, possibly a foxhole. This is one of a group of five on the western side of Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond.

A small mound with an associated subcircular waterfilled pit was noted during a non-intrustive walkover survey of the proposed mire restoration area on The Chains, undertaken by South West Archaeology as part of the Exmoor Mires Project. The pit is located upslope of the mound and is of similar size. This was interpreted as a mineral extraction site. [1] The Historic Environment Officer for the Exmoor Mires Project undertook a non-intrustive walkover survey of the proposed mire restoration area on The Chains, which included this site. Noted was a small mound with a water-filled pit on its upslope side. The mound measures 2.5 metres by 2 metres, with a height of 0.6 metres; the pit is of a similar size and is sub-circular in shape. This feature is similar to MEM22549. It may be a prospecting pit or a World War Two military feature, possibly a foxhole. This is one of a group of five features on the western side of Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond (MEM22595, MEM22596, MEM22598 and MEM22599). [2] A large scale metric survey of the Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond environs was undertaken by Hazel Riley in 2012 as part of the Exmoor Mires Project. A small rectangular hollow was seen measuring 2 metres north-south, 1 metre east-west and 0.7 metres deep. An associated a sub-circular mound measured 2 metres north-south, 1.5 metres east-west and 0.9 metres high. This feature lies on the northwest side of Pinkworthy (or Pinkery) Pond and is interpreted as a small trial pit, prospecting for ironstone, and dates from the mid-19th Century. [3]