NHER 60709 (Monument record) - Possible ditches and pits

January-February 2012. Desk-Based Assessment.
A desk-based assessment was carried out in advance of redevelopment of a 15ha site.
The development area appears to have been used as common land from the late medieval period to the 19th century. Previous ground disturbance from quarrying was noted to the north and west of the site, but there is no direct evidence of ground reduction within the study area.
See report (S1) for further information.
H. Hamilton (HES), 29 April 2015.

March 2013. Geophysical Survey.
A detailed magnetometer survey was carried out over three fields prior to proposed development.
Two linear and three curvilinear anomalies within the large northern field have been interpreted as possible ditches of archaeological origin. Two area anomalies within this field may also represent pits. However, all of these responses were somewhat amorphous and weak and therefore the interpretation remains uncertain without further investigation. The majority of these features were located within a large area of magnetic variation caused by changes in geology or pedology.
All other magnetic responses have been interpreted as the result of spreads and dispersed scatters of modern ferrous debris in the topsoil, an area of modern made ground (located on the south-western edge of the southern field), and the presence of fences and underground services near the edges of the fields and across the centre of the northern field. A small strip of land comprising the western field and a large portion of the southern field could not be surveyed due to overgrowth.
See report (S2) for further information.
H. Hamilton (HES), 20 April 2015.