Event/Activity EPM289 - Detailed Gradiometer Survey at Farlington Marshes

Wessex Archaeology carried out a detailed gradiometer survey over 6 ha of land at Farlington Marshes Nature Reserve between the 4th and 5th September 2023. The project aimed to establish the presence/absence, and nature of detectable archaeological features within the site. The work was commissioned by JBA Consulting for the purposes of heritage management. Four Sensys FGM650/3 magnetic gradiometers spaced at 1 m intervals and mounted on a non-magnetic cart were used to carry out the survey. The only archaeological features identified were two former post-medieval field boundaries (one recorded on historic OS mapping) and two areas of post-medieval ridge and furrow. A spread of possible demolition material was identified in the south-west of the site which may have been associated with the position of a structure shown on historic OS maps between the 1810s and 1850. Any other anomalies were thought to be modern (e.g. footpath, services, drains) or natural.