Airman’s Corner, Winterbourne Stoke, Wiltshire: Report on Geophysical Survey, February - March 2009
Author(s): Neil Linford, Louise Martin
This report describes the results of a geophysical survey of approximately 3 ha at Airman’s Corner road junction, Winterbourne Stoke, Wiltshire. The survey was undertaken following an urgent request to assist with the development of plans for new visitor facilities for Stonehenge. There was little prior evidence for any known archaeological activity, beyond agricultural buildings recorded by historic mapping and a scatter of mainly pit-type anomalies found during two previous geophysical surveys that partially covered the area in question. The present survey was conducted with an array of high sensitivity caesium magnetometers more capable of detecting relatively weak magnetic responses from features below colluvial deposits in the bottom of the dry valley traversing the site. This survey confirmed the location of the activity suggested by the historic mapping and suggested a wider scatter of possibly much earlier pit-type anomalies across the down. A targeted area of earth resistance survey (1ha) was then conducted to corroborate the magnetic data and successfully enhanced the interpretation of probable C19-C20 built structures at the site.
- Report Number:
- 23/2009
- Series:
- Research Department Reports
- Pages:
- 9
- Keywords:
- Earth Resistance Geophysical Survey Magnetometer
