EDO8319 - Land south of Crown Road, Marnhull; geophysical survey 2026

OASIS: Project Methodology: The gradiometer survey was undertaken using four SenSys FGM650/3 magnetic gradiometers spaced at 1 m intervals and mounted on a non-magnetic hand-pushed cart. Data were collected at a rate of 100 Hz and interpolated to 0.1 m intervals along transects spaced 1 m apart, in accordance with European Archaeologiae Consilium recommendations (Schmidt et al. 2015). The cart-based gradiometer system used a Carlson RTK GNSS 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 exceed European Archaeologiae Consilium recommendations (Schmidt et al. 2015). Project Results: The gradiometer survey has been successful in detecting anomalies of archaeological origin, in the form of round barrows indicating a possible funerary landscape, likely dated from the late Bronze Age to the Iron Age and linked to similar activity identified to the north-east. Two round barrows have been identified in the northern part of the survey; a rectangular ditch is featured in relation to one of the western barrows and is likely a later addition. The partial remains of a further round barrow has been identified in the south of the site. Additionally, two possible round barrows have been identified in the north-western extent of the survey area, although their interpretation is more tentative given their weaker magnetic properties. The number of round barrows detected in the survey area indicates funerary activity, which is synonymous with the wider landscape. The posthole alignment in the south-east of the site could indicate a prehistoric field boundary or land division. If related to the round barrows, they could delimit the extent of the funerary landscape towards the east. [AT2.1] Several signs of the ridge and furrow field system suggest the rural use of the area in the post-medieval period. Other anomalies related to modern agricultural activities, such as drains and ploughing trends, have been detected across the site. A varying range of geological deposits has been identified within the site. These have indicated areas of natural pitting indicative of the underlying geology, substantially across the southern aspect of the site.