Site record MDR24108 - Pits, Stake Hole, and ditch, Upper Oldhams Farm, Long Rake, Youlgrave, Middleton and Smerrill

Pits, Stake Hole, and ditch, Upper Oldhams Farm, Long Rake, Youlgrave, Middleton and Smerrill. Date unknown. A pit was located in the central area of the excavation, extending beyond the southern limit of excavation, measured approximately 0.82m in length, 0.72m wide and 0.22 deep. It was oval in shape, filled by dark red-brown silt-clay deposit and contained occasional charcoal flecks. Located to the south-east of this pit and was an elongated ditch like feature that extended from the southern limit of excavation in a northernly direction for approximately 2m before terminating. It measured 1.14m wide and 0.24m deep and was characterised by concave sides and an irregular base. It was filled by a dark brown silt-clay with occasional limestone inclusions. A second oval pit was located approximately 2.5m to the north of pit. This Pit measured 1.1m in length, 0.53m wide and 0.12 deep. The pit was backfilled with a medium textured dark brown silt which contained frequent fragmented limestone inclusions. A Stakehole was identified 2.6m to the east of and was circular in shape with steep irregular sides and a rounded base. It measured 0.14m in diameter, was 0.1m deep, and was filled by dark brown silt-clay. No archaeological material was recovered from the features and the environmental analysis yielded no archaeobotanical remains other than modern contamination. Given the site’s close proximity to the scheduled moments in the area, it is plausible that the features are associated with the prehistoric landscape in which they are located. However, due to the lack of archaeological material and dating evidence, this cannot be confirmed and the dates remains unknown. (1).