SDO16472 - East Farm, Bradford Abbas, Dorset. Report on Geophysical Survey, September 2018

Caesium magnetometer and ground penetrating radar surveys were carried out in 2018 to assist in re-assessment of a scheduled Roman villa site, following discovery through aerial photography of a possible Roman temporary camp 750m to the west. Magnetometer survey revealed a dense complex of occupation indicating an Iron Age and Roman settlement on an axial routeway. While small stone buildings/structures were identified, the more formal comlex layout of a Roman villa could not be discerned. North of the scheduled area, survey revealed a series of enclosures on different orientations, indicating several phases of activity. One sinuous curving ditch was interpreted as a possible Neolithic causewayed enclosure. GPR did not produce useful results, possibly due to soil conditions.