SDO21219 - Common Road, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset: Detailed Gradiometer Survey Report

‘A detailed gradiometer survey was conducted over land at Common Road, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset (centred on NGR 399278 117209). The project was commissioned by Sixpenny Handley Community Land Trust Limited with the aim of establishing the presence, or otherwise, and nature of detectable archaeological features in support of a planning application for the development of the site for residential housing with associated services. The site comprises 0.8 ha of a pasture field located off Common Lane, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset. The geophysical survey was undertaken on 12 March 2018. The detailed gradiometer survey has not identified any anomalies that can confidently be interpreted as archaeology. This is largely due to the variability of the magnetic background, resulting from changes in the underlying superficial geological deposits. Several possible archaeological pit features have been identified across the site. However, these are more likely evidence of natural pitting in the chalk bedrock. Evidence of post-medieval or modern ploughing has been identified across the south of the site. The remaining anomalies noted on the site are likely to be modern. These include two manhole covers and a service trench running between them.’