| Title: |
Geophysical Survey at Land at Boscoppa Road, St. Austell, Cornwall |
| Series: |
South West Archaeology Ltd. unpublished report series
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| Downloads: |
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southwes1-512304_210798.pdf (10 MB)
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Download
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| Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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| DOI |
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| Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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| Abstract: |
The geophysical (gradiometer) survey was undertaken in accordance with current best practice and CIfA guidance; and follows the guidance outlined in Geophysical Survey in Archaeological Field Evaluation (English Heritage 2008); Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Geophysical Survey (CIfA 2014); EAC Guidelines for the use of geophysics in Archaeology: Questions to Ask and Points to Consider (Europae Archaeologiae Consilium/European Archaeological Council 2016). ‘Archaeological geophysical survey uses non-intrusive and non-destructive techniques to determine the presence or absence of anomalies likely to be caused by archaeological features, structures or deposits, as far as reasonably possible, within a specified area or site on land, in the inter-tidal zone or underwater. Geophysical survey determines the presence of anomalies of archaeological potential through measurement of one or more physical properties of the subsurface.’ (Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Geophysical Survey 2014). The results of the survey will, as far as possible, inform on the presence or absence, character, extent and in some cases, apparent relative phasing of buried archaeology to inform a strategy to mitigate any threat to the archaeological resource. The site comprises a single field between Boscoppa Road (south) and the A391 (north-east). It sits on moderately sloping ground to the south-west of the medieval settlement of Boscoppa, in the parish of St Austell. The development site lies within an area recorded on the Historic Landscape Characterisation as medieval farmland: the agricultural heartland, with farming settlements documented before the 17th century AD and whose field patterns are morphologically distinct from the generally straight-sided fields of later enclosure; either medieval or prehistoric origins. The survey identified five groups of anomalies across the field. These were predominantly linear ditch and/or bank boundary features associated with phases of the existing and historic field-system. Anomalies associated with agricultural activity, modern services, metallic debris and ground disturbance were also apparent. The degree of preservation of the identified features appears to be poor. The majority of the anomaly responses are weak, with some intermittent and barely discernible from the background geology. This suggests that many of the identified features only survive to a shallow depth, their intermittent nature suggesting only partial survival. However, it is possible that additional, even more ephemeral features, are masked by the background geology and modern disturbances. The results of the geophysical survey would suggest that the archaeological potential for the site is low. The majority of the identified features relate to historic phases of the existing field-system which are tentatively suggested as being medieval or more likely post-medieval in date. Any development of the site is likely to encounter and destroy the buried archaeological resource (should it be present). Further mitigation through targeted evaluation trenching may be required to validate and clarify the results of the geophysical survey and the dating of any features, if present. |
| Author: |
P Webb
P Bonvoisin
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| Publisher: |
South West Archaeology Ltd.
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| Year of Publication: |
2023
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| Locations: |
| Parish: |
St Austell |
| District: |
Cornwall |
| County: |
Cornwall |
| Country: |
England |
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Grid Reference: 203607, 53549 (Easting, Northing)
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| Identifiers: |
| OASIS Id: |
southwes1-512304 |
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| Source: |
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| Relations: |
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| Created Date: |
04 Jul 2023 |
