SDO16520 - An archaeological gradiometer survey Sturminster Marshall to Culpepper's Dish Pipeline

Report on geophysical survey in advance of construction of a new water main linking the Sturminster Marshall Water Treatment Works and Culpepper's Dish reservoir. Surveys were done at locations selected following a desk-based assessment: West Almer Farm (Area 1), Mapperton (Area 2), Winterborne Tomson (Area 3), Bloxworth Down, Lincoln Farm and Townsend (Areas 4 to 9), and Galton Heath (Area 10). Eighty-five magnetic anomaly groups were identified as indicating probable archaeological deposits, and most were interpreted as representing field and enclosure boundaries not relating to current field systems. A ring-ditch and part of a known barrow, and a possible ditched track were also detected, as well as several areas of enhanced magnetic response possible relating to archaeological deposits from craft, industrial or other activities.