Resistivity Survey completed

 

A resistivity survey was carried out at St George Ivychurch on 4th November. The survey aims to look for evidence for a former extension to the existing church building. Below is feedback from Julie, one of our volunteers who took part in the survey.

 

‘After attending the Fifth Continent’s training sessions which provided introductions to geophysical survey techniques and to various different church designs, new volunteers had a chance to put theory into practice by joining the Heritage Team conducting a resistivity survey of the churchyard at St. George’s Church, Ivychurch.

 

The weather was exceptionally pleasant, and we had soon laid out some grid lines ready to take readings using the resistivity meter. This is a non-invasive way of seeing, with varying degrees of electrical response, what structures may be lying beneath the topsoil. Higher and lower readings on the equipment indicate the presence of moist, conductive (low resistivity) material such as clay soil, or drier and less conductive (i.e. higher resistivity) materials such as brick or stone.

 

survey St George Ivychurch

survey st George Ivychurch

 

The volunteers took turns placing the metering equipment at intervals and taking readings which were then called out and recorded on squared paper – these would later be input to a computer program to translate the readings into a graphic representation of the various values. This would enable the team to see “hotspots” of interesting readings which might suggest the presence of buried foundations from a long-forgotten structure, or of unmarked graves and other features.

 

Everyone enjoyed the session, and the next instalment is eagerly awaited!’

 

resistivity

resistivity

 

For more information visit the Sentinels on the Marsh – Historical and archaeological surveys project page.