Absolute Archaeology
Professional Archaeological Services
About Archaeology
Here we provide information on archaeology, what it is, how it fits in with the planning system, links to guides and how to learn more.
What is Archaeology?
Archaeology is the rich tapestry of the human past. It ranges from the earliest humans to “walk” the earth (c.6 million years ago) to the modern period. Archaeology is concerned with the physical past, those things that have been created, shaped, altered and made special by humans across the world. But this is not restricted to objects; fields, boundaries, buildings, houses, villages and all the things that are physical that humans have engaged with are equally part of this.
All those physical things that existed in the past form what is called the archaeological record. How these come to form the record (e.g. becoming buried or as ruined structures or being incorporated into modern layouts) is a complex issue, and one that takes skills, experience and dedication to unravel.
One should not think of the things that come to us in the archaeological record as the discarded, the rubbish or the unwanted. It may be surprising to think, but physical remains (from the largest earthwork or building to the smallest trinket) have defined humans and have been central to our development. Houses, cars, televisions, toys, watches, wedding rings etc are just modern versions of what archaeologists now call material culture (all the various physical things that were part of human life in the past).
Our job as archaeologists is to record and understand all these different facets of the human past.
The Importance of Archaeology
Archaeology tells people about the place they live, where they have come from and how the world around them has changed, often at the hands of their ancestors. People take great pride in the place they live, and these places are comprised of myriad of different historic features that contribute to the character of an area. Whether these are great hillforts overlooking a small village or a factory associated with a particular industry that formed the mainstay of employment, the past is made up of many different parts.
Archaeology doesn’t just tell us about the past; it tells us how we came to be where we are now.
What is the Historic Environment?
The Historic Environment is the term that encompasses the whole range of human engagement with the environment in which they live, from the earliest time to the modern period. This includes looking at how archaeological sites relate to the wider landscape. Humans have helped to shape the world around them for millennia and there is little of what we call the natural environment that has not in some way been affected by our actions.
The Historic Environment incorporates the whole landscape, incorporating agricultural or ritual, battlefields, parks and gardens, towns, villages, cities, woodland and coastal and marine environments and all the smaller archaeological sites and find spots.
Archaeology in the planning system
In 1992, the government issued Planning Policy Guidance 16 (also known as PPG16), which required developers to commission archaeological work either ahead of consent for permission or during construction work, in order to protect the historic environment from destruction.
The archaeological record is a highly valuable resource, which can be damaged by development. Therefore PPG16 was put in place to ensure that where archaeological remains exist or were thought to exist, there was a system to prevent the destruction of this resource, prior to the compilation of a detailed record of the site.
In March 2010, the government published Planning Policy Statement 5 (PPS5), a document that combined both archaeology and historic building guidance. Replacing PPG16, PPS5 assess the significance of heritage assets when they are threatened by development, providing a mechanism to ensure that they are adequately protected or preserved by record.
The need for archaeological work when dealing with planning and development
There are normally two ways that an archaeological site, or potential archaeological site, will be dealt with, by a local authority, in the planning system. The first is pre-determination, where the developer will be required to submit information concerning the archaeology or potential archaeology on a site, in order to assess the significance of this resource and the impact of the proposed development, prior to consent being granted. This normally involves a Desk-Based Assessment followed by an Evaluation, which is designed to investigate the potential archaeological resource, which can then be used by the local authority to mitigate any impact to the resource. However, it may involve a range of other archaeological work, for example landscape or earthwork survey, geophysical survey, building recording, field-walking etc.
The alternative is to condition archaeological work. That is to give permission to undertake a development, but provided that certain conditions are met, including archaeological work. This latter mechanism within the planning system is often associated with statements such as "no development shall take place until the applicant has secured the implementation of a programme of archaeological work".
This is often (but not always) associated with what is called a Watching Brief, where an archaeologist is present during ground work to watch for potential archaeology. However, more complicated archaeological work may also be necessary as part of this and it is possible to condition an evaluation.
If you have been asked for any archaeological work as part of development we can help. We know the planning process and are best placed to offer a response to the requirements of a Local Planning Authority. We have direct experience of working in the planning sector and can therefore offer the best solution for your needs. Contact us...
