SILBURY HILL, WILTSHIRE: REPORT ON GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY, FEBRUARY 2001
Author(s): Neil Linford, Louise Martin
A geophysical survey using magnetic, earth resistance and ground penetrating radar (GPR) techniques was conducted on the summit of Silbury Hill, Wiltshire, to investigate the area surrounding the recently collapsed remains of an antiquarian excavation shaft sunk by the Duke of Northumberland in 1776. It was hoped that the survey would reveal evidence for any near-surface archaeological remains threatened by the continued collapse of the shaft and identify unstable areas of ground where further subsidence might be likely. Given the limited area available the results proved quite encouraging, with anomalies of interest identified in both the earth resistance and GPR data. However, these latter pit- and ditch-type anomalies do not appear to be related to the walled features recorded during the 1968 excavation on the summit of the monument. Results from the immediate vicinity of the collapse confirm the area of slumped ground to the S is highly unstable and liable to further subsidence at any time.
- Report Number:
- 21/2001
- Series:
- CfA Reports
- Pages:
- 18
- Keywords:
- Earth Resistance Geophysical Survey Ground Penetrating Radar Magnetic
