ABINGDON ARCHAEOLOGICAL GEOPHYSICS

PECKOVER HOUSE, WISBECH,  CAMBRIDGESHIRE

Here we carried out magnetometry and resistivity surveys in the gardens for the National Trust.

The magnetometry results were as disappointing as expected on small sites with much ferrous interference.

The resistivity was at a half metre sample interval and showed the modern path running north south across the garden, probable former paths or even building remains under the lawn and a possible pond or similar in the northern part of the survey area.

The earth resistance survey took longer than usual as earth leakage currents had to be filtered out by the equipment. Trees and bushes also affected the results by drying the soil under their shade and by their roots taking moisture from the soil.

Red = high resistance, blue =  low resistance.

Resistivity on 1st edition O.S. base map.

The western part of the garden showed less. It however was useful in giving an illustration of the way iron lawn edgings can dominate a resistivity survey as they have such low resistance. These edges are the blue lines which cut through a high resistance area on the south western side of the survey area.