ENN106004 - Corby South trunk main, 1997 (Geophysical survey)

Scanning with gradiometers was carried out along the southern and central sections of the proposed pipeline route. The northern part of the pipeline route, comprising dense woodland and a building site were not investigated. Strong ferrous responses were encountered in the southern section of the pipeline route, to the west of the railway, while archaeological type anomalies were identified in three locations in the central section. Recorded survey was concentrated in the three locations of potential archaeological interest identified by the scan, Areas B, C and D. In addition, recorded survey in Area A examined an extensive region of ferrous disturbance, associated with a slight mound, in the southern part of the pipeline route. Strong responses were detected in this area and these are likely to be due to the presence of material dumped during land reclamation. Two weak linear anomalies and several pit type responses were identified in Area B, though these may relate to modern activity near a railway tunnel. Several pit type anomalies were recorded in Area C, associated with a possible spring. However, an archaeological interpretation is uncertain due to the presence of ferrous responses also in Area C. A group of pit anomalies was detected at the base of a hollow running across Area D. While an archaeological origin for these cannot be dismissed a modern or natural source for these responses is likely.