Ratcliffe Proposed Quarry - Detailed Gradiometer Survey Report

Wessex Archaeology

A detailed gradiometer survey was conducted over land at Ratcliffe on Soar, Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire (centred on NGR 451238 330624). The site comprises one field located on Barton Lane, Ratcliffe on Soar, covering an area of 9.2 ha. The geophysical survey was undertaken on 18 – 19 September 2023. In the west, linear and curvilinear anomalies have been detected which are the continuation of likely enclosure ditches or
boundary features identified during a previous geophysical survey (Wessex Archaeology 2022).

Whilst there is evidence for Romano-British, medieval, and post-medieval activity in the wider area, there is not enough evidence to confidently assign a definitive period for these features. Archaeological activity is also indicated in the north of the site, in the form of a ring ditch forming a circular enclosure. To the south of this in the centre of the site there is a possible partial ring ditch formed by pits or post holes. Ring ditches are generally Bronze-Age to Iron-Age/Romano-British in date. However, without further evidence no confident origin can be determined.

An area of possible archaeological pitting, likely caused by extraction of an unknown date has been detected across the north of the survey area. Natural pitting in the underlying geology cannot be entirely ruled out without further investigation. A number of weaker magnetic responses may indicate further archaeological activity in the form of enclosure or boundary ditches across the survey area. However, without further context these cannot be more confidently interpreted and may be of more recent agricultural origin. Historical cultivation is present in the west of the site. Due to the spacing and curvature they are likely to be part of a medieval to post-medieval ridge and furrow ploughing regime. Some have been subsequently reused for land drains. A former field boundary was identified, which was present between the 1884 (Nottinghamshire XLV.SE) to 1952 (SK53) OS mapping. In addition, anomalies interpreted as likely variations in the underlying geological deposits have been identified.