Monument record MNL 1145 - OUTLINE RECORD: West Row, Mildenhall - Geophysical Survey (MOLA)

2020 : A magnetometer survey of c.15ha was conducted. Roman and medieval features were excavated in evaluation trenches in 2015. The geophysical work has enabled these features to be put into the context of an overall site plan. A series of strongly positive linear anomalies in the W part of the survey area define the main outlines of the Roman site, which evidently continues NW beyond the survey area. A large, square-cornered ditch forms part of an outer enclosure, with two parallel ditches defining a probable trackway extending to its S. The probable access point from the enclosure to the trackway is blocked by a short, detached length of ditch. Within and around the enclosure is a rectilinear arrangement of ditches which probably belong to several different phases of site development. There are also two areas of more complex magnetic response; a chain of intense, amorphous positive anomalies just inside the S arm of the main enclosure ditch; and a nebulous positive anomaly close to the probable entrance. The former suggests a group of pits or small spreads of magnetically enhanced debris (midden, industrial residue, burnt soil, etc.), whilst the latter corresponds to a pocket of ‘dark earth’ exposed by the trial trench excavation. At the extreme W of the survey area, on the Beeches Road frontage, there are some small, irregular positive anomalies with a larger nebulous anomaly to their N. These lie approximately where the trial trench evaluation located medieval ditches and pits but cannot be correlated with any specific known features. It is most likely that they represent spreads of archaeological material or small groups of features that are too tightly clustered to be individually resolved. Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2020 (S1). Full report to follow.