EDO5677 - New First School, Ashmore Close, Hamworthy, Poole; geophysical survey 2003

A magnetic gradient survey was undertaken by Archaeophysica on the site of a new First School in Hamworthy, in advance of an archaeological evaluation in March 2003. Survey revealed at least half of the area to be densely covered with strong discrete anomalies. It is thought that these anomalies are due to furnace waste from Poole foundry but this cannot be proved without invasive study. Alternatively they could represent the remnants of Roman salterns filled with briquetage. Their large number suggests that they are perhaps not salterns although these features could produce significant anomalies and shouldn't be ruled out as it is possible that they are present on this site. Other industrial activity may have been the source for the material, whether on site or elsewhere. Some evidence for structure seems to exist between these strong anomalies but this cannot be adequately understood from the magnetic data alone. Two or three possible brick structures exist near the eastern boundary of the field and there is an alignment of pits in the northern part, again associated with highly magnetic deposits. A large ditch or field boundary crosses the field and has been filled or is at least associated with more magnetic deposits. At an early stage during survey it was thought that some of the high strength anomalies were drains; but this was found to be not the case once the whole survey could be viewed. (1) (2) (3)