Site Event/Activity record ENT5017 - Geophysical Survey near Ash Farm, Farnsfield

Location

Location Ash Farm, Cockett Lane, Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire
Grid reference Centred SK 64045 57191 (178m by 336m)
Map sheet SK65NW
District Newark
Civil Parish Farnsfield, Newark

Technique(s)

Organisation

Wessex Archæology

Date

Not recorded.

Map

Description

The survey area comprises pasture fields off Cockett Lane, some 10km southeast of Mansfield. Detailed gradiometer survey was undertaken over all accessible parts of the Site, a total of 3.3ha. The Site occupies two fields comprising relatively flat farmland to the west of Farnsfield, at a datum of c. 62m. Both fields have a gentle west-east slope. The survey area is bounded to the north by a dismantled railway, to the east by Crockett lane and the settlement at Farnsfield, to the south by Mansfield Road and the west by arable farmland. The magnetometer survey was conducted using a Bartington Grad601-2 fluxgate gradiometer instrument, which has a vertical separation of 1m between sensors. Data were collected at 0.25m intervals along transects spaced 1m apart with an effective sensitivity of 0.03nT. Numerous small pit-like anomalies were identified that are considered to be of potential archaeological interest. Several larger pit-like responses appear within the northern portion of the survey area, although the lack of any clear distribution or relationship between them makes conclusive interpretation difficult. It is possible that changes in the near-surface geology or agricultural activities are responsible for these anomalies, although an archaeological origin cannot be excluded entirely. Small-scale ferrous anomalies can be seen throughout the datasets, consistent with the site’s current use as paddocks. Some of these responses are associated with fencing present at the time of survey. A number of regions of magnetic disturbance can be seen around the boundaries of both fields and notably in close proximity to the existing farm buildings. Weak linear and curvilinear trends can be seen elsewhere within the data. Whilst it is possible that they are archaeological in origin, it is equally possible that they are geological or agricultural in provenance. No features of conclusively archaeological interest were identified.

Sources/Archives (1)

  • --- Unpublished document: Ben Urmston. 2013. Ash Farm, Cockett Lane, Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire. Detailed Gradiometer Survey Report.

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Record last edited

Jul 10 2024 10:12AM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any questions or more information about this record? Please feel free to comment below with your name and email address. All comments are submitted to the website maintainers for moderation, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible. Comments, questions and answers that may be helpful to other users will be retained and displayed along with the name you supply. The email address you supply will never be displayed or shared.