Archaeological Surveys Ltd unpublished report series

Resistivity survey was undertaken in two phases as part of an evaluation of the town defences prior to a third phase of repair and reinstatement by North Wiltshire District Council. A resistivity survey was carried out across two small areas adjacent to Malmesbury town walls close to the surviving remains of the East Gate. Area 1, outside the town wall, revealed high resistance linear anomalies associated with a trackway and areas of high resistance immediately adjacent to the extant wall remains. Area 2, interior to the town defences, revealed an area of high resistance where the current land surface overlies the town wall. Little additional evidence for the development of the defences was revealed by the survey. Additional survey located underground services, other faint linear anomalies are of uncertain origin. A large area of low resistance corresponds to damp ground adjacent to a stream forming the south eastern boundary of the survey area. It is likely that this low resistance area defines alluvial deposits where environmental indicators may be preserved.

Detailed magnetometry was carried out over 35ha within 80 separate survey areas over the line of a gas main between Ilchester and Barrington, Somerset A geophysical survey was carried out over the route of a proposed gas pipeline between Ilchester and Barrington in Somerset. A total of 35ha was surveyed with magnetometry within 80 separate areas. Within these areas at least 20 have shown some evidence for magnetic anomalies that may be responses to cut features such as ditches and pits with an archaeological origin. Positive linear, rectilinear, curvilinear and discrete responses may relate to enclosures, land boundaries, ring ditches and pits. There is some evidence for continuation of features between several fields along the survey corridor. Evidence for former agricultural activity that is likely to include ridge and furrow agricultural systems has also been located.

Archaeological Surveys was commissioned by Wessex Archaeology on behalf of Bristol Water to undertake a geophysical survey of a water pipeline corridor. This survey formed part of an assessment of any potential archaeology that may be affected by intrusive pipe laying operations. The survey was carried out using a hand-held Bartington Grad 601-2 gradiometer. The magnetometry survey has provided some evidence for linear anomalies, particularly within Areas 1 and 2, and for discrete positive anomalies that may represent pit-like features.

Detailed magnetometry was carried out over 1ha of the school playing field prior to construction of a new school. Magnetic anomalies located by the survey include areas of magnetic disturbance caused by steel fencing surrounding the site and magnetic debris associated with buried ferrous material. A series of positive linear anomalies have a pattern characteristic of land drains. A single positive linear anomaly of uncertain origin may represent a former cut feature although there is little to suggest significant archaeological features exist within the survey area.

A geophysical survey was carried out over 7ha within three sections of land within the former Upper Heyford Airbase. The survey was conducted within blocks of unobstructed grassland, avoiding hardstanding and buildings. Detailed magnetic survey revealed widespread magnetic debris and disturbance from modern material such as buried services which were located within the majority of the survey areas. Low magnitude positive linear and discrete anomalies were found within nine of the fourteen separate survey areas, however due to the proximity of modern structures and buried services their origin could not be confidently interpreted. It is possible that such anomalies may relate to cut features but it is possible that they have a modern origin.

Archaeological Surveys Ltd was commissioned by North Somerset Council to undertake a geophysical survey of a playing field owned by Nailsea School situated south of Golden Valley Primary School in Nailsea. The survey was requested as part of an assessment of the archaeological potential of the site and to investigate whether the area contains features associated with former coal mining. Detailed magnetometry was conducted using a Bartington 601-2 gradiometer. The survey located a zone of positive and negative linear and rectilinear anomalies of uncertain origin. Although the form of these anomalies could be consistent with structural remains, the extensive coverage of these features and their scale may suggest former industrial activity such as crop workings (shallow linear quarries associated with coal extraction). A number of more discrete positive anomalies could be related to pit-like features that may also be associated with coal extraction. Within the south eastern part of the surveyed area a large zone of magnetic debris is located adjacent to a large ferrous object. This may also represent a response to material originating from industrial activity on the site although dumping should also be considered. Magnetic disturbance and debris were frequently encountered across the site and may obscure weak anomalies. Positive linear and curvilinear anomalies located across the site may be associated with cut features although their archaeological potential is uncertain.

Archaeological Surveys Ltd was commissioned by Nailsea Town Council to undertake a geophysical survey of an area of land to the west of Engine Lane, Nailsea. Detailed magnetometry was carried out using a hand-held Bartington Grad 601-2 gradiometer. A number of anomalies located by the survey could not be characterised and have been classified as uncertain in origin. Within the western half of the survey area there is a widespread response to the underlying geological and pedological conditions, it is possible that a number of anomalies of uncertain origin are also natural features. A series of parallel anomalies associated with agricultural activity are located within the south eastern part of the site; a distinct northern boundary to these anomalies and a series of positive and negative linear anomalies suggest a former field boundary. Two zones of magnetic debris were located and may represent ground make-up or consolidation with waste material.

Magnetometer survey at Overton Hill, Avebury. Archaeological Surveys Ltd was commissioned by Oxford Archaeology, on behalf of Scottish and Southern Energy Plc, to undertake a geophysical survey along the proposed route of an underground electricity cable within the vicinity of The Sanctuary, Avebury.