Winterstoke Hundred Academy Expansion (WHAE), Locking, North Somerset: Archaeological Geophysical Survey

AOC Archaeology Group was commissioned by Cotswold Archaeology to undertake an archaeological geophysical gradiometer survey on 9th - 10th September 2020 to investigate the potential for buried archaeological remains ahead of a proposed development on land North of Locking, North Somerset (centred at ST 36493 60176). A total of 5.9 hectares were surveyed and the results of the survey have identified the following. A possible square enclosure has been located in the south of the survey area. It appears to contain an associated circular anomaly which lies centrally within the square enclosure with additional curvilinear features surrounding it. A large circular anomaly is located south east of the square enclosure but is far more ephemeral in its nature. It also has other associated trends located close by. Other areas of disturbance and trends of possible archaeology origin are also noted. Several unclear trends and amorphous areas of magnetic disturbance have also been detected. These are not easily distinguished, some of which could relate to archaeology whilst others are most likely recent disturbances. Agricultural trends have been noted throughout the survey areas in the form of both ridge and furrow and conventional modern ploughing. Many of these trends are visible on LIDAR noted in Cotswold Archaeology DBA. A pond has been located in the far west which appears to match the location of a pond on historic mapping. Across the rest of site modern disturbances have been noted especially around the periphery of the survey areas and are likely a result of modern activity.