ST aLBaNS Geophysics

ST aLBaNS Geophysics

Verulamium revealed

Sensing the city

An innovative community-based geophysics project is deepening our understanding of the archaeology of Hertfordshire. UCL’s Kris Lockyear focuses in on their illuminating work at the great Roman city of Verulamium.

Geophysical survey, and its ability to ‘read’ what lies below the ground, is one of archaeology’s greatest allies. Commercial geophysicists typically use magnetometers – which are quick and not affected by the weather. Unfortunately they are prohibitively expensive, and thus out of reach to most outside the profession. So, in 2013, we launched a new project, ‘Sensing the Roman and Iron Age Past’, a unique collaboration between aBOVE Geophysical surveys have revealed a wealth of new information about Verulamium – Roman St Albans. On the left, Andrew Bevan (UCL) and Lee Joyce (WEAG) are seen undertaking resistance survey, while in the centre Ralph Potter (WEAG) uses his GPR with a home-made powered cart. On the right, Mark Landon (BAG) and Rinita Dalan (MSUM) are using a magnetic-susceptibility meter.

local museums and societies, the Hertfordshire Historic Environment Record, and UCL. Our aim was to give local societies training in, and access to, a state-of-the-art magnetometer.

Centred on Hertfordshire, we have already surveyed a dozen sites, but our attention has

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current archaeology | www.archaeology.co.uk

January 2014 |

January 2016 |