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Resistance Survey Geophysics Days at Welby Deserted Village, Leicestershire

Come and undertake a Geophysical Resistance Survey at the Deserted Village of Welby in Leicestershire.

You can book by the day at £35 per day or the special discounted rate of £150 for 5 days.

This is a real hands-on practical learning experience where you will undertake the survey yourself of this important archaeological and historic site.

08th to 12th July 2019

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Geophysical Resistance Survey

Come and have a go at Geophysical Resistance Survey and help out with mapping the site of Welby Deserted Village in Leicestershire.

Resistance survey is an active geophysical technique based on the passing of an electrical current through the ground and the measurement of the resistance to its current (Gaffney & Gater 2006). The main influence on the level of resistance of subsoil material to an electrical current is the moisture content and porosity. The archaeological theory is based on the fact that ‘dry’ features such as walls and compacted features such as metalled surfaces or floors will demonstrate relatively high resistance. Opposite to this ‘wet’ ditches and pits which have a more silt-rich filling should hold higher relative levels of groundwater. This should provide lower resistance readings. Resistance survey is therefore measuring high and low resistance anomalies (Gaunt 2016)

The surveys and reporting will be conducted in accordance with English Heritage guidelines, Geophysical survey in Archaeological Field Evaluation (David, Linford & Linford 2008); the Institute for Archaeologists (IfA) Draft Standard and Guidance for archaeological geophysical survey (2010); the IfA Technical Paper No.6, The use of geophysical techniques in archaeological evaluations (Gaffney, Gater & Ovenden 2002); and the Archaeology Data Service Guide to Good Practice: Geophysical Data in Archaeology (draft 2nd edition, Schmidt & Ernenwein 2010).

All attendees will get to undertake the survey and use all equipment.

View the Desk-Based Assessment of the site by L. Saunders of Force Archaeology:

Deserted Medieval Village of Welby, Leicestershire.

Desk-Based Assessment

Prepared by L. Saunders. 2017. Project Code - WEL Report No. 001/2017

Click here

The Deserted Village of Welby is being surveyed as part of a long -term research project by Mercian Archaeological Services CIC under licence from Haworth Estates, and on behalf of Force Archaeology

About the site

The Deserted Village of Welby is situated 3km to the north-west of Melton Mowbray town-centre, off the Nottingham Road (A606), in North Leciestershire.

The site “sits within a historically rich landscape with close proximity to prehistoric and Romano-British activity that could extend within the area of the site.

The now deserted village of Welby formed one of the original group of five hamlets, which lay round the Anglo-Danish central township of Melton Mowbray `middle town’. This itself was centrally located within the area which became known as ‘The Five Boroughs' during the Danelaw period.

The earliest reference to Welby is within the Great Domesday Book c.1086 A.D., when it was referred to as 'Alebie’ and 'Alebi'. This name is of Scandinavian origin - the homestead or farm of Ali.

Within the close vicinity (i.e.: within 500 metres) there is evidence of Bronze Age, Iron Age and Romano-British Activity.

Previous investigations on the site have uncovered pottery which has been identified of Saxo-Norman' type and stone walls.

It is not known whether this 'Saxo-Norman' pottery is from the pre or post 1066 period as no reports are available” (Saunders 2017).

“A hollow-way can still be seen running West/East in the north of the field, which would have joined the original line of Welby Lane. There is another immediately to the north of the churchyard, which also joins Welby Lane to the east.

Other potential related sites include fishponds to the north-west at Fishpond Close (MLE 3344) and south-east toward the railway bridge close to the valley bottom (MLE3341), while to the west lies the site of a possible former watermill (MLE3348) with associated millpond in nearby former Osier Beds (MLE3351)” (Saunders 2017).

There is much potential interest in the site due to a large right angled ditch detected by Force Archaeology in 2017:

“A Field walk in January 2017 by members of the Force Archaeology and Heritage Society (previously known as Operation Nightingale Heritage) noted a substantial bank running North/South some 100 metres in length. 20 metres from the North end of the bank was a gap of 5 – 10 metres which had the appearance of an entrance. At the Southern end the bank turned 90 degrees East for a further 100 metres before it disappeared into the adjoing Industrial Business Park. An external ditch ran parallel to this bank. At the corner the height differential was 1.5 metres. It was significant in that the corner was rounded, reminiscent of those seen in Roman Army forts” (Saunders 2017).

Aerial Photograph- courtesy of Force Archaeology.

Aerial Photograph- courtesy of Force Archaeology.

http://www.archaeologyskills.co.uk/

Designed to work with the Archaeology Skills Passport

A topographic survey of the site using Differential Survey-grade GPS will also be undertaken to map earthworks within the site as both a subjective and objective survey. This will also be available for attendees to undertake and to gain experience.

Attendees will be instructed in how to use all equipment and will learn about the techniques and how these are employed in the field. Attendees will also learn about site logistics and how to set out a geophysical survey using tapes and canes, and help with setting out grids around the site to undertake the survey.

*Please note, no lunch or transport is provided*