SDO21241 - Land at Church Road, Pimperne, Dorset: Detailed Gradiometer Survey Report

‘A detailed gradiometer survey was conducted over land at Church Road, Pimperne, Dorset (centred on NGR 390255 109534). The project was commissioned by Wyatt Homes Ltd, on behalf of Lewis Wyatt Ltd, with the aim of establishing the presence, or otherwise, and nature of detectable archaeological features at the site in support of a planning application for its residential development. The site comprises an arable field, directly north-west of Pimperne, and covers an area of 2.3 ha. The geophysical survey was undertaken on the 31st of January 2019 and has demonstrated the presence of a number of anomalies of potential archaeological interest. Perhaps the clearest of these is located in the west of the site, where a probable ditch/bank feature has been identified. This may relate to part of a late prehistoric ‘Celtic’ field system, or possibly a later lynchet of uncertain date. A further linear feature was identified in the centre of the site and may also be associated with a similar agricultural feature, but this is likely to be heavily ploughed down, given the weak nature of the response. A cluster of pit-like features was identified in the south of the site. These may simply relate to natural features but, given the level of prehistoric activity in the vicinity of the site, a possible archaeological interpretation cannot be ruled out. In the western part of the site, there are several diffuse anomalies that are thought to be associated with superficial geological deposits. These correspond with the location of recorded head or ‘Coombe’ deposits. These are often encountered within the base of dry valleys and are a typical feature in areas of permeable bedrock such as chalk. Whilst they are not of direct archaeological significance, they may contain eroded and redeposited artefacts and seal underlying stratigraphy in the form of buried former land surfaces containing archaeological and palaeoenvironmental remains. Two anomalies have been identified that correspond with features visible on historical mapping of the area. This includes a probable former field boundary and track that lead from the unnamed road to the north of the site, to the former location of Manor Farm (now Manor Farm Close). In addition, two modern services have also been identified at the western and eastern edge of the site, as well as evidence for modern ploughing.‘