Event/Activity EPM155 - King Richard School, Hampshire, Detailed Gradiometer Survey Report

Wessex Archaeology carried out a detailed magnetic gradiometer survey at King Richard School, Paulsgrove, in June 2010. The survey was conducted using a Bartington Grad 601-2 dual gradiometer within an area measuring 3.4ha on a sports field to the east of the school. The work was part of an ongoing programme of archaeological investigation prior to a proposed redevelopment of the site. The aim of the survey was to establish whether any archaeology was present on the site, and the extent/character of any remains detected. A desk-based assessment produced ahead of the geophysical survey noted low levels of prehistoric activity, mainly focused on the former shore-line of Portsmouth Harbour to the south of the site. It is probable that the medieval settlement of Paulsgrove was located nearby, and historic maps suggest the land was used for arable cultivation until fairly modern times. The underlying soils had not been surveyed, but are likely to be argillic brown earths of the 342a (Upton 1) association. Soils in similar geological settings have produced magnetic contrasts suitable for the detection of archaeological remains using the same geophysical equipment. The survey detected a number of anomalies which possibly relate to archaeological features. These include a sinusoidal response similar in form to military trenching (only very speculative interpretation), and a linear anomaly and linear trends which may possibly indicate former fields and ridge and furrow cultivation. Regions of increased magnetic response are thought to probably indicate a variation in land use, and may define former enclosures or fields. A previous desk-based assessment on the same site recorded topographical features which would appear to relate to these anomalies and regions. It is possible that responses at the south-eastern and south-western extent of the site are of archaeological interest, but these may just be chance alignments. Accession number: 2014/288