Low Ham Roman Villa, High Ham, Somerset: Report on Geophysical Survey, July 2018
Author(s): Neil Linford, Paul Linford, Andy Payne, Lawrence Rees
Caesium magnetometer and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys were conducted at Low Ham Roman villa, High Ham, Somerset, to address a casework request received from the Heritage at Risk Team in Planning Group South West to map the extent and state of preservation of Roman remains at the scheduled monument. The site has been impacted by extensive badger activity and despite attempts to protect the archaeological deposits these remain at high risk. The survey also provided an opportunity to assist with the publication of the original excavations of the Roman villa being undertaken by colleagues from the University of Southampton, and to assist the Churches Conservation Trust with the interpretation of the wider post-medieval landscape where the villa sits as part of an Heritage Lottery Fund repair project on the nearby Grade I listed ‘Church in the field’. The vehicle-towed caesium magnetometer survey (12.4ha) revealed extensive ranges of buildings associated with the villa arranged around a central courtyard, together with a system of enclosures extending into the fields to the north and south. The GPR coverage (6.9ha) targeted the main villa buildings and badger setts, together with areas surrounding the church and possible site of a post medieval mansion house.
- Report Number:
- 72/2018
- Series:
- Research Report
- Pages:
- 13
- Keywords:
- Caesium Vapour Geophysical Survey Ground Penetrating Radar Iron Age Magnetometer Post Medieval Roman
