SDO21273 - Summary report of magnetometry surveys on Oakley Farm, Sixpenny Handley. October and November 2024

‘Abstract: This report describes the conduct and findings of magnetometry surveys over three sites on Oakley Farm, Sixpenny Handley using the Cranborne Chase National Landscape’s dual-sensor Bartington Grad 01 magnetic gradiometer system. Data was collected over parts of four unscheduled sites listed in the Dorset Historic Environment Record (HER), MDO6063, MDO6284, MDO37333 and MDO37334, with one feature within MDO6063 having been tentatively identified by Avon Valley Archaeological Society (AVAS) specialists as a possible long-barrow site being masked by later settlement. The survey over the Iron Age/Romano-British settlement site (MDO6284) showed areas of greater and lesser magnetic disturbance within clear boundary ditches, accompanied by signs of smaller ditch features that may be associated with internal divisions around or within the main enclosure. No clear signs of buildings or walls can be seen. The survey over the Bronze Age barrows (MDO37333 and MDO37334) showed the expected conjoined barrow ditches seen in crop marks from Google Earth historic imagery, but also showed an unlisted and so far unknown rectangular feature approximately 9m x 6m close to the Bronze Age barrows. The survey over the LIDAR feature tentatively identified as a possible long barrow within MDO6063 showed none of the classic anomalies seen in other near-by long barrow sites and, as a result, this location has now been disregarded by the AVAS team currently conducting a survey of such barrows on Cranborne Chase.’