Beneath the Soil from Trent to Nene: Assessment of the Performance of Geophysical Survey in the East Midlands

David Knight (Trent & Peak Archaeology), Mark Pearce (Dept. of Archaeology Unversity of Nottingham, Alison Wilson(Trent & Peak Archaeology).

This research project, completed in 2007, was developed to assess the effectiveness of geophysical survey methods in an area focused upon the East Midlands, (with the addition of Peterborough, Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent). Particular emphasis is placed upon the performance of geophysical survey in the Trent and Nene Valleys. The project outcome is a database of past geophysical survey events in the study area up to the end of 2005, together with a detailed archive report and a published synthesis of the results. The database has been integrated into the English Heritage Geophysical Survey Database, and enhances that resource by approximately 800%. A digital copy of the report in .pdf format can be downloaded from this site.

In order to assess the effectiveness of geophysical surveys, their results are compared to subsequent evaluations and excavations. The conditions under which each survey was conducted are recorded to assess the effectiveness of geophysical techniques under different conditions. The project’s objective is to assist curators and archaeological contractors in the preparation of archaeological schemes of treatment and ensure more effective use of geophysical methods. The benefits of this project are numerous. If geophysical surveys can be more accurately targeted to areas where they are likely to provide clear results, curators will be better placed to recommend them as an effective risk management method. This will enhance their effectiveness as an evaluation method, and hence will add significantly to their value from the perspective of curators, archaeological contractors and developers.

This project was conducted by David Knight (TPA), Mark Pearce (Dept of Archaeology, University of Nottingham) and Alison Wilson (TPA). Funding was provided by the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund distributed by English Heritage on behalf of Defra.

Magnetometer survey in progress near the Roman town of Margidunum, Nottinghamshire ( photograph © B Vyner)

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