Introduction
We were asked by the client to carry out a geophysical survey, in order to find out if there were any significant archaeological remains, that could be detected within an area due for development.
Background
The bedrock of the area was known to be calcareous mudstone near the boundary between the upper Silurian and lower Devonian strata, and we found the soils to be typical brown earths which are well drained and fertile. The site lies in an area of local hollows and rises that slopes gently northwards and the site drains freely north and east to a small stream, at he time of our visit the site was in pasture.
The survey was carried out using a fluxgate magnetic gradiometer across an area of 30 x 30 metres, and then the majority of the same field was scanned in order to identify any larger anomalies.
Findings
The stronger magnetic anomalies detected correspond very closely to modern debris and drainage works and not archaeology, and the weaker anomalies correspond with small natural variations in the magnetic gradient. A number of anaomalies were detected in the wider scan, but these were concentrated in areas of former field boundaries and banks.
Conclusions
From our survey we were able to tell the client that archaeological remains were likely to be absent form the surveyed area, and such anomalies that were detected could be explained by the presence of more recent debris and disturbance.
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