Landowners

Do you believe you have features of an historical interest on your land?  

Puzzled by the crop-marks that appear in dry summers?

Does your plough keep hitting bricks or metal objects in the same area or throw up bits of old pottery?

Would you like answers?  

If so, we would love to hear from you!  Modern archaeology is a lot more than just digging holes in your fields.  The Field Group does not charge land owners and can provide a range of non-invasive surveys including:

• Preliminary research report

• Structured fieldwalking 

• Metal detecting surveys

• Earthwork surveying 

• Geophysical surveying - the Field Group has the equipment to carry out two types of geophysical surveying:

  • Magnetometry 

  • Resistivity 

None of these techniques require any digging (other than metal detecting when small holes will be dug to locate the sub-surface metal finds) with the Field Group simply marking out a set of 30m x 30m grids with pegs to allow the proper mapping of the results and walking up and down over the land in question.  The Field Group is fully insured and will only carry out work as agreed with you the landowner.  We recognise that you are running a business from the land and are experienced at fitting in with your needs and any cropping cycles.  

It is only if a site of interest is identified through this non-invasive work and there are clear research questions that could be resolved by digging that we would ever consider undertaking a limited scale excavation, with your consent.  We also appreciate your desire for confidentiality and whilst reports are filed with the relevant bodies, if requested we will ensure they are only submitted on the non-public section of the Historic Environment Record for Suffolk.  We will not publicise the results or any of our work without your prior agreement.

The Field Group can also advise on how to contact the Portable Antiquities Scheme and the Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service for further support, if required. The Field Group does not, however, carry out work to satisfy local authority planning and development requirements.

If you would like to find out more please contact us by email: field-group@suffolkinstitute.org.uk