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Geophysics
[Please
follow the links below for further information]
Summary
Further to the Project Design (CB048, May 2006) that details
a series of small scale excavations within the North Block
of the Roman villa (HER 3743, SAM 171A, TF 735 181) it is
considered important that the whole scheduled area (approx 8
ha.) would benefit from a complete geophysical survey.
Timetable -
30th July – 31st August 2006
It was hoped that this survey could be completed well in
advance of implementation of the main part of this project
design. Resistivity, which was the secondary
method to be employed, was only conducted only in the areas
of the site that warranted this approach. This took place
during the excavation.
Aims
The purpose of the geophysical survey will enable us
determine, through non-invasive techniques, other
archaeological features that have not been previously
noted. It is already known that numerous other masonry
buildings exist on the site within the scheduled area.
However, it was hoped that this type of survey would help
identify possible enclosures, ditches, trackways and other
types of occupational features.
English Heritage
granted
formal permission for this work to be carried out within the
scheduled area. We also intend to survey the immediate area
surrounding the scheduled area, (approx. 50 ha.) to help
begin to set
the villa in context within its local environment. This will
be implemented during the Autumn/Winter 2006/2007.
Method
The scheduled area will be surveyed in 20 x 20 metre grids
aligned on the Ordnance Survey grid (-/+ 0.10m error).
The East-West base line will be set out with a differential
GPS (-/+ 0.01m error). The grid will be set out with
bamboo canes ensuring these do not penetrate below the
plough-soil into undistributed archaeology.
Magnetometry
A Bartington 601 dual gradiometer will be used at transect
intervals of 1m, sampled at 0.125m.
Click the header for
further information and plots.
Resistivity
TR systems resistivity twin-probe meter will be used at
transect intervals of 0.5m, sampled at 0.5m.
Click the header for
further information and plots.
Ground
Penetrating Radar
Heritage Marketing and Publications hired the equipment and Dr. Tim Dennis, Essex University
conducted the survey. This survey was conducted on the weekends of 30/31st
July and 12/13th August 2006. Click the header for further
information and plots.
Processing Data
Data will be processed using Geo-plot Version 3 and then
overlaid directly onto digital maps using MapInfo Version 6.
Publication of Results
This survey will forms an integral part of the Project
Design for this site and will be published along with the
results from the excavation.
Archive of Data
The data will be archived with Heritage Marketing and
Publications together with a data-set also being supplied to
Norfolk Landscape Archaeology and Historic Environment
Record (HER).
Aerial Photography
Over the years this site has
been heavily photographed, mainly by Derek Edwards. Over 100
images have been examined by Michael de Bootman and John
Shepherd at Norfolk Landscape Archaeology, Gressenhall, as part of the
desk-top assessment for the project.
Clearly visible on this aerial
photograph are cropmarks of the north and south blocks
together with other buildings. Photograph taken by Derek
Edwards 21st June 1974. TF7318/L/ABP20. Courtesy of Norfolk
Landscape Archaeology. (Edwards 1977)
Click here
for further information.
1946 RAF Aerial Photograph of Site - click image to enlarge.
1st Edition Ordnance Survey - click image to enlarge
Tithe Map - click image to enlarge
1988 Aerial Photograph of Site - Click image to enlarge
 "Across an area of 100 hectares around the villas a complex
of enclosures and linear features has been located by aerial
photograph (Gregory 1982, fig. 8).
While these features may be land divisions associated with
the villa estate, Late Saxon and medieval finds made in this
area leave this interpretation open to question. Only a
well-controlled fieldwalking survey of the surrounding area
may be able to answer this question more satisfactory" -
de Bootman 2001.
Image courtesy of Norfolk Landscape Archaeology.
de Bootman, M., 2001
‘Re-evaluation of the Roman Villa at Gayton Thorpe,
Norfolk’. Norfolk Archaeology XLIII, 133-142.
Edwards, D., 1977 'The Air photographs Collection of the
Norfolk Archaeological Unit. Second Report', East Anglian
Archaeology 5, 225-237.
Gregory, T., 1982
‘Romano-British settlement in west Norfolk and on The
Norfolk Fen edge’ in Miles, D., (ed.) The Romano-British
Countryside. Studies in Rural Settlement and Economy,
British Archaeological Report, British Series 103 (Oxford),
351-76.
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