Geophysical Survey at Aswarby Estate, Lincolnshire

The survey was undertaken using four Bartington Grad601 sensors mounted at 1m intervals (1m traverse interval) onto a rigid frame. The system was programmed to take readings at a frequency of 10Hz (allowing for a 10-15cm sample interval) on roaming traverses (swaths) 4m apart (Illus 5). These readings were stored on an external weatherproof laptop and later downloaded for processing and interpretation. The system was linked to a Trimble R8s Real Time Kinetic (RTK) differential Global Positioning System (dGPS) outputting in NMEA mode to ensure a high positional accuracy for each data point. MLGrad601 and MultiGrad601 (Geomar Software Inc.) software was used to collect and export the data. Terrasurveyor V3.0.37.0 (DWConsulting) software was used to process and present the data. The survey has clearly identified anomalies indictive of two extensive areas of archaeological activity, in F1 and extending eastwards into F2 and in F6. Disparate and ephemeral anomalies also hint at archaeological activity in F8 although no clear pattern makes this possibility uncertain. Both AAA1 and AAA2, both of which are previously unknown, comprise clusters of enclosures, many with internal features suggestive of settlement activity. While none of these anomalies were previously identified, within the wider landscape as indicated in the archaeological background; large-scale Iron Age and Romano-British settlement activity is recorded primarily to the south, but also the north-west of the GSA, strengthening the interpretation given here. The survey has also identified a plethora of anomalies with many of these locating 18th and 19th century field boundaries and numerous other linear trend anomalies indicative of agricultural activity including field drainage, and post-medieval and modern cultivation. Two former ponds are also identified. Given the clarity with which the two areas of archaeological activity are recorded it is assessed that the survey provides a good indication of the extent of the significant archaeological potential of the GSA.. The archaeological potential of the GSA is assessed as high in AAA1 and AAA2, moderate in the eastern half of F8 around the highlighted anomalies and low elsewhere.