Site Event/Activity record ENT5120 - Gradiometry Survey at Ratcliffe Proposed Quarry, Ratcliffe on Soar

Location

Location Ratcliffe Proposed Quarry, Barton Lane, Ratcliffe on Soar, Nottinghamshire
Grid reference Centred SK 51192 30565 (480m by 533m)
Map sheet SK53SW
District Rushcliffe
Civil Parish Ratcliffe on Soar, Rushcliffe

Technique(s)

Organisation

Wessex Archæology

Date

Not recorded.

Map

Description

The site is located 500 m north-east of Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station, 2.3 km west of the village of Gotham, and 10 km south-west of central Nottingham, in the county of Nottinghamshire. The survey comprises 9.2 ha of land, currently utilised for arable agriculture. The site is bounded by Barton Lane to the east, woodland and agricultural land to the north, with agricultural land to the south and west of the survey area. Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station is located 330 m to the south-west. The detailed gradiometer survey was undertaken using four SenSys FGM650/3 magnetic gradiometers spaced at 1 m intervals and mounted on a non-magnetic hand-pushed cart. Data were collected at a rate of 20 Hz and interpolated to 0.1 m intervals along transects spaced 1 m apart. In the west, linear and curvilinear anomalies have been detected which are the continuation of likely enclosure ditches or boundary features identified during a previous geophysical survey. Whilst there is evidence for Romano-British, medieval, and post-medieval activity in the wider area, there is not enough evidence to confidently assign a definitive period for these features. Archaeological activity is also indicated in the north of the site, in the form of a ring ditch forming a circular enclosure. To the south of this in the centre of the site there is a possible partial ring ditch formed by pits or post holes. Ring ditches are generally Bronze-Age to Iron-Age/Romano-British in date. However, without further evidence no confident origin can be determined. An area of possible archaeological pitting, likely caused by extraction of an unknown date has been detected across the north of the survey area. Natural pitting in the underlying geology cannot be entirely ruled out without further investigation. A number of weaker magnetic responses may indicate further archaeological activity in the form of enclosure or boundary ditches across the survey area. However, without further context these cannot be more confidently interpreted and may be of more recent agricultural origin. Historical cultivation is present in the west of the site. Due to the spacing and curvature they are likely to be part of a medieval to post-medieval ridge and furrow ploughing regime. Some have been subsequently reused for land drains. A former field boundary was identified, which was present between the 1884 (Nottinghamshire XLV.SE) to 1952 (SK53) OS mapping. In addition, anomalies interpreted as likely variations in the underlying geological deposits have been identified.

Sources/Archives (1)

  • --- Unpublished document: Bethan Healey and Lydia Jones. 2023. Ratcliffe Proposed Quarry, Ratcliffe on Soar, Nottinghamshire: Detailed Gradiometer Survey Report.

Related Monuments/Buildings (4)

  • Circular anomalies at Ratcliffe Proposed Quarry, Ratcliffe on Soar (Element)
  • Ditches at Ratcliffe Proposed Quarry, Ratcliffe on Soar (Element)
  • Pitting at Ratcliffe Proposed Quarry, Ratcliffe on Soar (Element)
  • Ring ditch at Radcliffe Proposed Quarry, Ratcliffe on Soar (Element)

Record last edited

Aug 12 2024 2:19PM

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