SNN112809 - Geophysical Survey Report of Land north of Bell Plantation, Towcester, Northamptonshire

Magnitude Surveys was commissioned to assess the subsurface potential of c. 30ha area of land off Watling Street, Towcester. A fluxgate gradiometer survey was successfully completed across the survey area. Anomalies of probable and possible archaeological origin have been identified across a large portion of the survey area and have been interpreted as multiple settlement complexes with possibly associated field systems of possible Late Prehistoric to Romano-British date. Various different forms of enclosures were identified, including a potential pentagonal enclosure and multiple possible roundhouses. Some areas of potential archaeological industrial activity have been identified within one of these complexes. The survey has also detected bands of ironstone, sandstone and limestone which may have masked weaker anomalies in small sections of the survey area. Historical and modern agricultural activity is evident across the survey area in the form of several ridge and furrow regimes along with former field boundaries and modern ploughing trends. The impact of magnetic interference from modern infrastructure is limited to from material in field edges.