| Abstract: |
The cart-based gradiometer system used a Carlson BRX7 RTK instrument, which receives corrections from a network of reference stations operated by the Ordnance Survey (OS). Such instruments allow positions to be determined with a precision of 0.02 m in real-time and therefore exceeds European Archaeologiae Consilium recommendations (Schmidt et al. 2015).
The detailed gradiometer survey was undertaken using four SenSys FGM650/3 magnetic gradiometers spaced at 1 m intervals and mounted on a non-magnetic cart both hand pushed. Data were collected with an effective sensitivity of ±8 µT over ±1000 nT range at a rate of 100 Hz, producing intervals of 0.02 m along transects spaced 4 m apart. The detailed gradiometer survey has been successful in detecting various ditch and pit-like anomalies in the north of the site along with an area of enhanced magnetic response. Given the possible medieval enclosures and building platform identified previously via aerial photography, it is possible that these relate to enclosures and settlement activity related to the medieval village of Brickhampton including building platforms, enclosure ditches, potential pits and a potential area of burning. However, as many of the ditch anomalies and area of disturbance are weak their extents and relationships with each other are not clear. Therefore, other more modern origins, such as recent agricultural and land management practices, cannot be ruled out. The possible pit features and area of burning, whilst possibly archaeological origin, may also be the result of more modern activity, or in the case of the pit features, variations in the underlying natural deposits.
A former field boundary, as recorded on historical Tithe (1842) and OS mapping (1885 First Edition County Maps Series, 1:2,500) has been identified in the south of the site.
The remaining anomalies are thought to be modern, relating to services, agricultural activity, a drain and ferrous debris. |
