Archaeology@Agincourt
The Agincourt Battlefield Archaeology Project
Methods
The project uses standard archaeological methods to acquire potential information, such as archaeological geophysical survey (earth resistance, magnetic and RADAR surveys), field walking, aerial photography, metal detecting, and historic document research.
Archaeological Metal Detecting
Metal detectors are used to systematically scan the fields to recover artefacts which lie within the topsoil. The location of each artefact is recorded in three dimensions so that it can be mapped, together with other artefacts, to provide a distribution patterns of all, or specific types of finds. As most physical evidence of battle was dropped on the old ground surface then those artefacts that have survived should still lie within the top or ploughed soil.
Although archaeological metal detecting is a form of geophysical survey it is often seperated into its own method as it is generally intrusive.
Geophysical Survey
Magnet or resitivity surveys use instruments to measure different types of readings at ground level at any given point. A magnetic survey measures the earths magnetic field at a given time and a resistivity survey measures the electrical resistance of the moisture content of the soil at a given location. This information is then mapped over a specific area and used to form diagrams of what might be lying beneath the surface. Ground penetrating RADAR surveys record slices through the earth and these can be joined together to form slices or plans of readings at different depths.
Historic document analysis
Searches of the archives for historic documents, particularly old maps, allows the former landscape to be recoded on layers that can interact with modern maps and other archaeological information. Two of the most important maps of the Azincourt area are the ones initiated by John George Woodford in 1818 and the National Survey of 1825. These provide extensive information relating to the historic battlefield.