A Comprehensive Magnetic Survey of a Neolithic Causewayed Enclosure in West‐central France for the Interpretation of Archaeological Features

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This article focusses on an original magnetic survey protocol and its data processing chain. The use of a high sensitive magnetometer combined with a motorized total station permits production of a magnetic map with a high spatial resolution and a high precision of magnetic and positional measurements. The data processing enhances the final magnetic map by the removal and restoring the outlier values, measurement errors and magnetic disturbances. The magnetic survey was undertaken on the Neolithic site of Le Pontet at Saint-Nazaire-sur-Charente (French Atlantic coast, between Bordeaux and La Rochelle). The site was chosen for geographical and archaeological characteristics such as its settlement period, the topography and the presence of different magnetic disturbances (proximity to roads and residential area). The data processing is mainly made on ungridded data and the gridding is the second to last step. The last step is to correct the relative height variation of the sensors between the prospecting lines (tracks) induced by the topography and operators. The use of a motorized total station allows accurate height determination of the sensors and an upward continuation is performed to correct the slight magnetic intensity variation induced by the relative height variation of the sensors. The results of the magnetic map bring out several causewayed enclosures, pits and postholes. This map will serve as a working basis for interdisciplinary studies and future archaeological studies of this site.

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Data processing chain for high spatial resolution magnetic survey: Application on the Neolithic site of le Pontet (Charente‐maritime, France)

Bruniaux

Mathé

Lévèque

et al. 2017

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Integrating geophysical survey and excavation at the Freston Early Neolithic causewayed enclosure, Suffolk (UK)

Schofield

Carter

Jackson³

et al. 2020

A 2019 geophysical survey of part of the 8.55‐ha Freston interrupted ditch system (Suffolk), which integrated reconnaissance fluxgate gradiometry with earth resistance meter techniques, produced a fine‐grained geo‐spatial resolution site plan to undertake a pilot‐study research excavation. The features targeted comprised four ditch termini of the enclosure, with the aim being to test the long‐established hypothesis that the monument represented an Early Neolithic causewayed enclosure. Although the geophysical survey successfully located the ditch termini and linear trends indicative of the internal palisade trench, the magnetic data in particular further suggested the presence of numerous pit‐like anomalies both within and outside of the enclosure. The combined survey data also detailed for the first time an approximately 70‐m‐long curvilinear low‐resistance ditch‐like anomaly that appears to precede the interrupted ditch system. The working hypothesis is that this represents a ditch flanking a long barrow, a type of communal Early Neolithic mortuary monument that typically predate the construction of causewayed enclosures across southern Britain. The subsequent 6‐week excavation achieved its aims by recovering diagnostic Early Neolithic (earlier 4th millennium cal BC) material culture from the ditch fills.

Thickness Estimation of the Soil‐Sedimentary Cover Inside Causewayed Enclosures to Locate an Occupation Layer: Map of the Archaeological Potential of the Neolithic Causewayed Enclosure of Le Pontet

Bruniaux,

Onfray,

Dandurand

et al. 2024

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The western centre of France is one of the richest regions of Western Europe in terms of causewayed enclosures from the Neolithic period. To date, more than 300 such sites have been identified. Most causewayed enclosures in the region range in size from some hectares to over 10 ha. Exhaustive excavation of such sites is rarely performed because such operations are both financially expensive and time intensive. Completing an exhaustive excavation of these sites is also extremely complicated due to their complexity. Recording the most complete possible site plan is a major challenge for optimizing excavation. Traditionally, aerial photography has been the primary method used for delineating causewayed enclosure plans. A magnetic survey can also provide complementary information. Magnetic imaging reveals both enclosure ditches and internal features (pits, postholes, etc.) quickly and with high spatial resolution. At some sites, occupation layers dating from the time of enclosure may be preserved and contain archaeological artefacts or small features in situ. This article proposes a protocol for locating a Neolithic occupation layer inside a Neolithic causewayed enclosure. To locate the areas where this layer is likely to be present, a map of the archaeological potential of the Le Pontet site was produced based on a thickness map of the soil‐sedimentary cover. This map was created by combining an apparent electrical resistivity map, the results of electrical resistivity tomography, an orthophotograph with contrasting cropmarks and the results of dynamic cone penetration tests. To validate the archaeological potential map, an excavation campaign was conducted in 2020 to investigate several sectors; the aim was to prove the presence of the occupation layer and study the pedo‐sedimentary stratigraphy of the site.