What Is An Archaeological Geophysical Survey?
Archaeological geophysical surveys are non-invasive inspections that help uncover what lies below the ground without digging. Our surveyors use specialist equipment to map out changes in the soil that may point to walls, ditches, pits, graves, or old roads. Our common survey methods include magnetometry and ground penetrating radars, which collect data across a site and turn it into clear images and plans.
We aim to help our clients reduce risks and continue with their building works with fewer delays and expensive surprises. Our surveys can also be used to help you with any planning applications, targeted excavations, and protecting heritage sites by reducing unnecessary disturbances.
Types Of Geophysical Surveys We Offer
At Pre-Construct Geophysics, we provide several types of geophysical surveys across the UK, including fluxgate gradiometer surveys, resistivity surveys, and topsoil magnetic susceptibility surveys. We also provide ground penetrating radar (GPR) and magnetometer surveys, and we can carry out seismic surveys when we need to.
We provide these services so that our clients can understand what may be buried on their site without needing to dig first. This can result in fewer surprises, safer design plans, and better planning processes for excavation and construction work. Our surveys can also be used to spot old pipework, hidden voids, and weak ground, so that you can plan around them safely.
Our Archaeological Geophysical Survey Services
We provide a range of archaeological geophysical surveys to give our clients a clear picture of what's under their land. We provide everything from magnetometer surveys to gradiometer surveys to uncover hidden building work and weak soil or landscapes. By using more than one method, we can reduce the risk of missing hidden features, improve our results, and help you plan your excavation work in the right places. Our surveys are ideal for cutting your overall costs, reducing delays, and limiting unnecessary disturbances.
Magnetometer Surveys:
A magnetometer survey measures the small changes in the Earth’s magnetic field across a site. Buried ditches, pits, kilns, hearths, brickwork, and even disturbed ground can send out different magnetic signals compared to the surrounding soil.
Our surveyors walk in set lines to collect readings and turn them into a clear map that highlights any possible archaeological remains. Our magnetometer surveys are quick, non-invasive, and cost-effective for covering large areas. Our results can help guide your excavation project, reduce risks and help you avoid delays.
Ground Penetrating Radar Surveys (GPR):
A ground penetrating radar survey is a non-invasive scan that uses radio waves to see what's underneath the ground. A small antenna is moved across the ground that sends pulses into the ground and records the echoes that bounce back from changes in the soil, stone, and voids. The data from this survey can show the depth and shape of any buried walls, floors and graves.
We can also apply our GPR surveys on hard surfaces like tarmac and concrete. Our GPR surveys can help you plan any building work safely before you start digging, and they can help us protect heritage remains by avoiding large excavation projects.
Resistivity Surveys:
A resistivity survey measures how easily an electrical current passes through the ground. Damp soil usually conducts electricity better than dry soil, so buried features often create different electrical resistances. For example, stone walls and rubble often appear as a higher resistance, while ditches and pits can appear as a lower resistance because they retain more moisture. We take these readings in a grid and turn our findings into a map of likely remains.
Metal Detection Surveys:
A metal detection survey is a planned search of land using metal detectors to find and record buried metal objects. Our surveyors will work in set lines or grids to mark, log and map our findings. Our metal detection surveys are great for locating coins, tools, and other small items, as well as identifying hazards such as scrap metal, nails and wire. Our metal detection surveys can improve your site's safety and find artefacts that might otherwise be missed.
Desk-Based Archaeological Assessments:
Our desk-based archaeological assessment is a study of your site’s history and archaeology using existing information, without digging. We use a range of sources, such as old maps, aerial photos, local records, historic environment data, and past reports, to understand what heritage features may be present on your site and how a planned project could affect them.
Our assessments are ideal for helping clients understand the risks of their building project and helping them meet the local planning requirements. We can also advise on whether further surveys are needed and how to preserve any important remains during your project.
Planning And Development Surveys:
A planning and development survey is a set of archaeological checks that are carried out before any building work starts. This survey looks at whether a site may contain important remains and what extra work, if any, is needed. This can include a desk-based study, a site walkover, geophysical surveys, and small test trenches.
After this survey is completed, we'll write down our results in a clear report for planners and project teams. These surveys are perfect for helping clients meet planning conditions, reduce delays, and protect heritage sites.
Surveys For Planning Applications
Pre-Construct Geophysics’s archaeological geophysical surveys give planners and developers clear evidence of what may be buried on their site, without the need for digging or excavation work. Our surveys are ideal for planning applications since we provide clear results that assess the site and advise on any follow-up work.
Our survey results can highlight any trench locations, reduce expensive surprises during groundworks, and help you protect important remains by limiting ground disturbances. Since our work is quick and non-intrusive, we can help you keep your projects moving and reduce delays.
Construction And Development Site Surveys
At Pre-Construct Geophysics, our construction and development surveys give clients vital insight into what lies beneath their landscape before their project starts. Our surveys can reveal buried structures and archaeological features without digging, and we provide clear data that can be used in reports for local authorities.
By reducing your site's risks and improving your understanding of the ground early on, our clients can plan their projects more effectively and protect any heritage assets. Our surveys are quick, non-intrusive, and they can cover large areas, making them valuable for construction sites and large development projects.
Book A Geophysical Survey
If you need an archaeological geophysical survey, get in touch with us today! Pre-Construct Geophysics can help you see what's hidden beneath your site before any digging starts. We provide a range of detailed surveys to help identify archaeological features, buried objects, and any changes in the soil or ground surface, without disturbing the site. Our surveys are great for improving your design choices and reducing the risk of delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Archaeological Geophysical Surveys
Find out more about archaeological geophysical surveys from our frequently asked questions. If you require any further information, feel free to get in contact on 01522 704900.
It is an investigation that records physical contrasts in the ground to identify possible buried archaeological remains. Readings collected across a site are processed into images and plans that help interpret what may lie below the surface.
Depending on the method and conditions, a survey may reveal evidence of walls, ditches, pits, roads, hearths or other buried features. A detectable contrast with the surrounding ground is needed, so not every remain will be visible.
Our services include fluxgate gradiometry, resistivity and topsoil magnetic susceptibility surveys. Ground penetrating radar is also described on this page. The appropriate method or combination depends on the site and the questions the investigation needs to answer.
The choice takes account of the likely remains, geology, soils, surface conditions and access. Existing records and previous investigations can also help establish whether broad coverage or a targeted survey will be most useful.
Geophysical data collection normally avoids excavation. Instruments take readings at the surface, although earth resistance surveying uses small probes inserted into the soil. Any subsequent trial trenching is a separate stage of investigation.
They can highlight areas of archaeological interest early in a project. This evidence can inform layout discussions, help target further investigation and improve understanding of where buried remains may affect proposed groundworks.
A desk-based assessment examines existing sources such as historic maps, aerial photographs and previous reports. It provides context for the site and can help frame the questions that a geophysical survey is asked to investigate.
Yes, GPR can be used on suitable surfaces such as tarmac and concrete. It records reflected radio-wave signals, but the depth and clarity of the results depend on the ground, the surface construction and the equipment used.
No. Features may be too small, too deep, poorly preserved or insufficiently different from the surrounding ground to detect. Results should be considered alongside the site's history and the limitations of the methods used.
Contact us with the site location, a boundary plan, the approximate area and your project objectives. Any previous archaeological reports, survey requirements and details of access or vegetation will help us discuss the work and its timing.
Our Location
Pre-Construct Geophysics
47 Manor Rd, Saxilby
Lincoln, LN1 2HX
Contact Us
01522 704900 07734 958015 Contact us