SURVEY RESULTS

2006 / 43 Blacklands, Somerset

1.	Survey Area

1.1	The geophysical survey was conducted using Bartington Grad 601-2 magnetic gradiometers over two separate areas; readings were logged at 0.25m intervals along 1m-spaced traverses. Area 1, measures approximately 3.5ha, while Area 2 is about 0.3ha in size.

1.2	The survey grids were set out by GSB Prospection Ltd and tied in by Dr Henry Chapman, using a Trimble dGPS system into the Ordnance Survey (OS) National Grid. The location of the survey areas is shown in Figure 1 at a scale of 1:3000.

2.	Data Processing and Display

2.1	The magnetic data have been pre-processed by removing baseline shifts due to zig-zag data collection. Where appropriate, traverses have been corrected for minor misalignments; these are due to variations in walking speed, which is usually a result of ground conditions or topography. Unless stated it should be assumed that no filtering has been undertaken on the data sets collected in this project. The data have been interpolated to improve the quality of the greyscale images.

2.2	Figures 2 and 3 show the magnetic data as a summary greyscale image and interpretation at a scale of 1:2500. Figure 4 shows the interpretation at a larger scale of 1:1500.

2.3	In the Archive Section, included on the CD at the front of the report, the results are displayed as XY traces and greyscale images, all with accompanying interpretations at a scale of 1:500. For ease of display at this scale some of the areas have been subdivided, however, they are discussed as a whole in the text. The display formats and the interpretation categories used are discussed in the Technical Information section at the end of the text.

3.	General Considerations - Complicating factors

3.1	Conditions for survey were adequate. The large amount of rain which fell in a short period of time prior to and during the survey served to change the ground cover from a firm soil to a very soft and sticky matrix which made walking difficult.

3.2	The survey was hampered in certain places by ferrous objects including a boundary fence bisecting the larger area, a pipe and temporary buildings on the site. These ferrous responses will have masked any possible archaeological responses around these areas.

3.2	Small scale ferrous-type responses have been recorded in the datasets.  These are characteristic of small pieces of ferrous debris buried in the topsoil and are presumed to be modern in origin. While the most prominent of these are highlighted on the interpretation diagram, they are not referred to in the text unless considered relevant.

4.	Results of Gradiometer Survey

Area 1

4.1	The survey produced good, clear responses associated with an extensive series of ditched enclosures, and the findings corroborated the earlier geophysical work by the Bath and Camerton Archaeological Society. 

4.2	The clearest response is probably from the ditch marked (A) that appears to form a large curving enclosure; this was first noted in the earlier survey but the extended work, beyond the southern boundary, has gone a long way to establishing the full extent of this enclosure. 

4.3	An entrance into the enclosure corresponds with a gap (B) in ditch (A) and there appears to be a trackway running northwards. There are two more gaps in the enclosure located at (C) and (D) and hints of a fourth at (E), close to the previously excavated entrance / gatehouse (F) into the ‘villa’. A trackway also crosses on an east-west alignment.

4.4	It would appear that this enclosure is probably from an earlier phase of the site as further enclosures such as (G) and (H) appear to be ‘added’ on to (A). 

4.5	The enclosure is divided into separate areas and contains several significant features including a response that would appear to be a possible Iron Age roundhouse (I). Its shape is clearly defined and its position within the centre of a much smaller enclosure adds to its probable high status. 

4.6	The anomaly (J) is magnetically extremely strong and is likely to represent a fired structure such as a small kiln or metal-working area perhaps associated with the round house.

4.7	The rectilinear feature (K) in the western half of the enclosure (A) has the form of a building footing. This feature was previously identified (in the earlier survey) as a series of postholes but greater resolution in data collection here has altered this perception. It is located at the northern end of the possible trackway extending from the southern field. Its appearance is slightly weakened by the presence of further archaeological activity in close proximity. This archaeological activity is represented by the pits (L) and the curvilinear features (M).

4.8	Ditches producing much weaker responses than those mentioned so far can be seen in varying places in the data. As well as these, a multitude of what would appear to be pits have been found. These pits are concentrated mainly within the enclosures but as can be see with pits (N) they also appear outside them. 

4.9	The ferrous response (O) in the south east of the data with a north-south orientation is known to be an iron pipe carrying water. 

Area 2

4.10	The data from this area are dominated by the anomaly (1) which is most likely to be caused by a natural variation in the local geology. 

4.11	Anomaly (2) appears to be a partial ring ditch measuring approximately 30m in diameter. Its curvilinear nature is evident, although the complete pattern has not been identified due the adjacent natural response (1). 

4.12	Two distinct linear features (3) are present running in a north-west south-east direction. These could represent a trackway with a ditch on either side running up the slope of the field, perhaps leading to the postulated ‘ring’.

5.	    Discussion and Conclusions

Area 1

5.1	Gradiometer survey of the site at Blacklands has corroborated the findings of the Bath and Camerton Archaeological Society. The series of ditches creating the enclosures have once again been identified but to a slightly better level of resolution. This has led to some corrections in the interpretation of what were previously thought to be pit alignments and are now seen to be linear ditches.
 
Area 2

5.2	An anomaly representing a possible ring ditch was detected in the northern section of Area 2, measuring approximately 30m in diameter. This was partially magnetically masked by the presence of a large natural anomaly. To the south west of this is a possible trackway.

Project Co-ordinator:	J Gater
Project Assistants:	J Adcock, M Brolly, G Taylor and E Wood

Date of Survey:		23rd to 25th May 2006
Date of Report:		16th August 2006

References

SSEW, 1983	Soils of England and Wales. Sheet 5, South West England. Soil Survey of England 	and Wales.

Knappet B and Edwards K 2006 	Proposed Evaluation at Blacklands, Upper Row Farm, Laverton,  Somerset, Unpublished document.

SITE SUMMARY SHEET

2006 / 43 Blacklands, Somerset

NGR: ST 766 541

Location, topography and geology 

The site is in the parish of Frome, Somerset approximately 7 miles north of the town of Frome and close to the hamlet of Laverton. The fields under investigation are gently undulating and occupy an elevation of 120m. Soils of the area belong to the Evesham 1 association (411a) consisting of slowly permeable calcareous clayey soils associated with shallow well drained brashy calcareous soils over limestone (SSEW 1983).

Archaeology (Background information taken from Knappet and Edwards, 2006)

Since 1998 ongoing field work has taken place at the Blacklands site to the north of Upper Row Farm by the Bath and Camerton Archaeological Society. Early field walking uncovered artefacts such as flints and pottery, from prehistoric through to post-medieval times. Geophysical survey was carried out in 1999 over part of the site and discovered a rectilinear structure within an enclosure; this was deemed to be some form of ‘proto-villa’. Subsequent survey and excavation found evidence for a complex of enclosures and field systems.

Aims of Survey

The aims of the survey were to locate any detectable archaeological remains; in particular those associated with the “proto-villa” thought to have been found on the site. The survey was also used to verify, enhance and further the results of previous geophysical survey carried out by the Bath and Camerton Archaeological Society. This work formed part of a wider investigation being undertaken by Channel 4’s Time Team.

Summary of Results *

A series of ditches were detected, forming large enclosures. The enclosures appeared to be of differing phases with some magnetically stronger than others. This corroborated the results from the original gradiometer survey of the site. However, the increased sampling density of the current survey has highlighted that features first thought to be pits or post holes can now clearly be seen to be linear features. 

Survey in a separate area a few hundred metres to the west detected a possible ring ditch with a trackway skirted by two possible ditches, but no clear evidence for a postulated Roman villa building.

* It is essential that this summary is read in conjunction with the detailed results of the survey.

List of Figures

Report Section

Figure 1		Location of Survey Areas					1:3000
Figure 2		Summary Greyscale					1:2500
Figure 3		Summary Interpretation					1:2500
Figure 4		Summary Interpretation					1:1500

Archive CD
Figure A1.1	Area 1A: XY						1:500
Figure A	1.2	Area 1A: Greyscale					1:500
Figure A1.3	Area 1A: Interpretation					1:500
Figure A2.1	Area 1B: XY						1:500
Figure A2.2	Area 1B: Greyscale					1:500
Figure A2.3	Area 1B: Interpretation					1:500
Figure A3.1	Area 1C: XY						1:500
Figure A3.2	Area 1C: Greyscale					1:500
Figure A3.3	Area 1C: Interpretation					1:500
Figure A4.1	Area 2: XY						1:500
Figure A4.2	Area 2: Greyscale					1:500	
Figure A4.3	Area 2: Interpretation					1:500