EDO6947 - Land north of Crown Road, Marnhull; geophysical survey 2019

Detailed gradiometer survey was conducted over land at Land North of Crown Road, Marnhull, Dorset (centred on NGR 378622 11897). The site was located to the east of the centre of Marnhull and 7.5 km to the south-east of Gillingham in the county of Dorset, covering an area of 5.2 ha. Two parallel ditches have been identified in the north-east of the site of unknown date. Whilst there is clear evidence for prehistoric settlement, recorded 200 m east of the site and evidence for Bronze Age to Iron Age activity in the wider area it is not clear from the geophysical results alone if these ditches are prehistoric in origin. Numerous possible pit-like features are present in the north of the site which could indicate archaeological features such as extraction and refuse pits due to the proximity of prehistoric settlement to the east of the site. However, they may also be attributed to local geological variation. Ridge and furrow agricultural practices have been identified in the south-east of the site. It is unclear from the geophysical results alone if they date to medieval or post-medieval period. A former field boundary marked on Marnhull Parish Tithe map and a former footpath marked on 1888-90 edition Ordnance Survey map has been identified in the north of the site. The remaining anomalies across the site relate to geological variation and modern features. The modern features include ploughing, land-drains, pylon and numerous ferrous objects.