By using aerial photography, the entire area can be mapped and an overall view of the landscape can be obtained. There may be some clues from the sky that can be seen that might not be visible on the ground. However, before aerial photography can be used, it would be necessary to gain the proper clearance to use this method. Once that has been completed, it will be possible to obtain the necessary lay of the land that is to be surveyed. Another consideration to take into the use of aerial photography is that we are looking for certain indicators of where a site may exist. It is quite possible that nothing will be found through the use of aerial photography. Since the site is possibly a Roman villa, it would be best to use this method during winter. Earthworks with stone tend to show up best in the snow because of the fact stone holds in heat, which would melt the snow more than areas without stone underground.
Once aerial photography has been finished and evaluated, it is time to move ahead in the project to methods of closer inspection of the area. If the site is in an area of field, field walking could be productive, especially after a recent ploughing of the field. It is through this method that several smaller artefacts can be collected, and there may prove to be something that is of worth that would suggest something more to the site. Ploughing causes erosion of the soil, which, in turn, causes objects that have become incorporated into the soil to surface over time. As a result of this, field walkers can pick up remains of objects. It is important to keep a small enough area so as not to miss anything, but not so small that the bigger picture is not formed. For this project, intervals of five to ten metres between walkers would be best as the idea is to maximize the amount of information collected through field walking. Ideally, it would be best to do this after rain, as well. Pottery would be a positive find, however, it is unlikely, as it does not always live well after being ploughed. Also, recovery rate may not be high. Usually, this is a low statistic. However, any find suggesting existence of a site would be positive.
Geophysics and the use of resistivity is another plausible method to use on the possible site. Since this method reads the variations in electrical resistance of the ground, it would tell what exists underground. However, it is important to keep in mind that distance between the probes causes difficulty in seeing smaller items if they are quite far apart. While the probes allow for deeper visibility, smaller items are missed. On the other hand, the probes must not be placed so close together the big picture is missed. Putting them too close together can miss larger features of the site. As such, it is important to keep the probes close enough together that they give a good idea of what is below ground while still being able to see a variety of item sizes, but not so close that the large features are missed. Stone changes the electrical resistance of the ground by making it greater so that less current flows. As such, the levels will flux enough to get a visual of the site if there is indeed stone in the ground. However, it is important to know whether igneous rocks are common in the area or not because they change the readings of resistivity.
Another method of geophysics that goes along with resistivity is magnatometry, which measures the amount of iron oxides in the soil. This method is especially good if there is chalk and limestone in the area. This method picks up on areas where there was once a ditch or a pit as well as areas that were once heated. This is measured by a magnetometer or gradiometer. When magnatometry readings are put together with resistivity results, a bigger picture can be created and generalisations can be made about the area.
Although there are a variety of methods that can be used, some methods are better to use depending on the type of site. For all sites, certain considerations need to be made which will also change the type of method used to survey the area. While not all the methods outlined above may be best for all sites, some can be used for more than a Roman villa. Also, these methods may not always be used for surveying the possible sites of Roman villas. Other methods may be used as well. However, for this site, I have chosen the above as the means to an end in hopes of finding a new site.
