The Hallaton Fieldwork Group was formed in the mid 1990's as part of the county wide network of Parish Archaeology Wardens instituted by Peter Liddle MBE, initially there were just six regular members who confined their activities to fieldwalking and the identification and mapping of finds.   Frequent scatters of Roman greyware pottery, which is difficult to date were found.  Hoping to find the odd Roman coin or broken brooch which might aid dating these sites, Ken Wallace (a group member) purchased a second hand metal detector.   In 2000 they located a scatter of Iron Age coins in Hallaton and in 2001 the University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) were employed by English Heritage to investigate the scatter.  This site emerged to be one of the most important ritual Iron Age sites ever found in the UK.  The correct reporting of this find resulted in the first ever professional excavation of Iron Age coin hoards.

After working with the University the group wanted to expand their portfolio of seasonal fieldwalking, they knew that any excavation should have professional supervision, but they felt the geophysical surveying was something they could do themselves.  A Heritage Lottery Fund Grant was made providing the geophysical equipment, to carry out surveys using magnetometry and resistivity, a computer and programme for collating data and the necessary kit to set out the survey area.  The group's survey skills have attained professional standards.

The Group's constitution states that they will not understake work that should be contracted to paid professional geophysicists but are often able to carry out surveys for Archaeology wardens and amateur projects across Leicestershire and Rutland.