On the visit to Torquay Museum I picked up a report titled: 'A Neolithic and Bronze Age Site at Churston, South Devon', written by 'Michael Parker Pearson', 'Reprinted from Devon Archaeological Society Proceedings No.39 1981'.
("Surface finds from a flint scatter at Churston Court Farm indicate prehistoric activity from the Early Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age. An intensive field survey and excavation were carried out to assess the nature of that activity and its consequent disturbance by ploughing.")
So this site, about 1.25 miles ESE from Broadsands Chambered Tomb as the crow flies, would have been busy in the same period that the tomb was in use. It is also very close to the sea at Churston Cove.
I noticed on the OS map that a footpath runs through the area, so may take a look one day.
Apparently eleven fields were involved in the fieldwalking (350 hectares in a long rectangular area orientated roughly SW to NE, walked by one person during 3 weeks in Spring 1977) but only two had trenches dug: three in one field, one in another.
I can't see a date for the excavations, but Mike Parker Pearson later says:
"The characterization of the finds from Churston demonstrates the involvement of its Neolithic population in exchange networks across south-west England. At least four of the stone axes found originated in Cornwall while two flint axes came most probably from the chalklands of southern England. Although all flint had to be brought to the site, only 5 fragments of Portland chert and 59 pieces of Beer flint were found in the survey."
Various flint tools and worked pebbles and arrowheads are discussed.
An illustration shows 8 stone axes, one of which was believed to be part of a ground adze or macehead.
Previous to the survey, two copper ingot fragments were found 50m apart in adjacent fields, later tested, and found to be very pure, like many Late Bronze Age ingots. MPP writes: "They are relatively rare in the South-West and have been found only at five other sites; Lelant, St.Hilary and Kenidjack in Cornwall and Mount Batten and Kent's Cavern in Devon. (Pearce 1976, 23-34)".
"The survey, excavation and programme of artefact examination were made possible through the help of Mr. David Fish of Churston Court Farm. All the finds are now in his possession."
(The 10-page report is available at Torquay Museum for £1:00.)
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