Desk Based Assessment, Geophysical Survey at Land at Rockhead, Delabole, Cornwall

The desk-based assessment aspect of this report follows the guidance that is outlined in: Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment (CIfA 2020); and Understanding Place: Historic Area Assessments in a Planning and Development Context (Historic England 2017). The geophysical (gradiometer) survey follows the guidance that is outlined in: Geophysical Survey in Archaeological Field Evaluation (English Heritage 2008); Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Geophysical Survey (CIfA 2014); and EAC Guidelines for the Use of Geophysics in Archaeology: Questions to Ask and Points to Consider (Europae Archaeologiae Consilium/European Archaeological Council 2016). The results of the geophysical survey suggest that the archaeological potential of the site is low, with some evidence for boundaries that are tentatively suggested as being a part of the medieval or earlier field system, the majority of these features lie outside of the development area. The proposed development is likely to have a permanent and irreversible impact on any buried archaeological resource that is present on the site, though this resource appears to be limited. It is anticipated that the impact upon any surviving archaeological features/deposits on this site can therefore be mitigated through a standard archaeological condition as part of any approved planning permission.