REPORT ON GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY, APRIL 1995, DOWN GROUND, KNIGHTON DOWN, ISLE OF WIGHT

Author(s): Andy Payne

The presence of an important focus of previously unrecorded archaeological activity was suspected at Down Ground, following the discovery by metal detecting of a concentration of Celtic and Roman coinage. Magnetometer and resistivity surveys were carried out in an attempt to define the nature and extent of the activity in advance of a coroner's enquiry into the legal status of the finds and also as an aid to possible future scheduling. In the western half of the survey, the subsoil changes from chalk to drift deposits, and this has had a strong effect on both sets of results. The resistivity data clearly indicates the boundary between the less conductive chalk and the more water retentive drift deposits. In the western (drift covered) area, background magnetic activity is high and a complex pattern of superimposed magnetic anomalies and a honeycomb pattern of high resistance anomalies were detected. The irregular anomalies in this area are probably natural in origin, but the magnetic results also indicate the presence of a range of buried archaeological features, although no definite building remains were located. In the remainder of the survey, where the ploughsoil is directly developed over chalk bedrock, a possible primitive kiln-type feature was located, but in general the level of archaeological activity appears to decrease. Overall there is not a strong correlation between the geophysical results and the distribution of metal detecting finds, although a cluster of finds does appear to coincide with the location of the aforementioned possible industrial structure.

Report Number:
38/1995
Series:
AML Reports (New Series)
Pages:
13
Keywords:
Earth Resistance Geophysical Survey Magnetometer

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