Archaeological Works Specification
Site:
Planning Ref
Site Code:
Acc. No:
Date:
Contractor:
Land Adjacent to 1 Brookfield Crescent, Shirebrook
09/00356/FUL
MCA 04-06
Not currently available
September 2012
Mayfield CA Ltd
1.0 Introduction
1.1
Bolsover District Council have granted full planning permission for the
erection of a detached three-storey house.
1.2
The archaeological consultation with the Development Control
Archaeologist (DAC) for Derbyshire County Council who acts as advisor to
the local planning authority states:
“The proposal site lies only 65m west of a known Roman settlement site in the
vicinity of Stubbins Wood. Excavations were carried out on the site around 1951
and encountered the remains of an aisled agricultural building with an enclosing
bank and ditch. Pottery and coins indicated a date from around AD 200 to 280
for this settlement, and brooches and a hearth were also identified.
The exact boundary of the settlement site is not clear, but the Derbyshire
Historic Environment Record indicates (HER 12505) that it may have extended
into the area now occupied by Brookfield Crescent. This area was undeveloped
farmland until the current housing estate was constructed in the 20 th century,
and there is consequently potential for below-ground archaeology of Roman
date to survive in less developed areas such as gardens.
Wider Roman activity in the Langwith Junction area is suggested by the 1 st
century pottery from a site at Thickley Bank (HER 12506), c350m south-east of
the proposal site. Prehistoric occupation is also suggested by finds of a Bronze
Age flint scraper at Stubbins Wood (HER 12504) and a Neolithic scraper (HER
12503) in the area now occupied by Alandale Avenue, 200m south-east of the
proposal site.”
1.3
In respect of this archaeological potential, planning permission was
subject to a condition (no3) requiring the implementation of an
archaeological watching brief to identify and preserve, by record, the
significance of any remains disturbed by development.
1.4
Development commenced without securing the watching brief and at the
time of writing (6 September) a ring-beam excavation has been
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completed and works are on-hold awaiting approval and implementation
of the details of a watching brief.
1.5
This document is the written scheme of investigation for mitigating the
remaining developmental threat. It has been produced in accordance with
the standards and guidance of the Institute For Archaeologists and
common practice.
2.0 Scope of works
2.1
All remaining ground works will be subject to archaeological control. This
includes the service trenching and formation strip for the access drive.
These works will only be undertaken under archaeological supervision.
2.2
Any excavation works undertaken without archaeological monitoring and
which have not been approved in advance by the project archaeologist
and/or the DAC will be contrary to this approved written scheme of
investigation and therefore a breach of planning permission.
2.4
Any such breaches of the protocols detailed in this document will be
reported to the DAC and the local planning authority may take
enforcement action.
2.5
On-site monitoring will include recording of field observations on the
natural stratigraphy and any modern truncation events exposed; with
detailed recording and hand excavation of any in situ archaeological
remains.
2.6
On completion of site works, the DCA will be informed of the completion
of fieldwork. An ordered archive will be prepared and a report on the
findings submitted to the local planning authority and Derbyshire County
Council for approval.
2.7
Once approved, an OASIS form will be completed and a copy of the
report uploaded. A copy of this form will also be submitted to the
Derbyshire Historic Environment Record with a copy of the approved
report.
2.8
Mayfield CA Ltd will temporarily retain the project archive until
arrangements are made with the Derbyshire Record Office for the longterm curation of the archive paper element. The object element of the
archive will either be returned to the landowner, retained by Mayfield CA
Ltd or discarded in accordance with regionally agreed criteria as deemed
MCA 04-06 2nd Draft
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appropriate in consultation with the DAC. A summary report will be
published in the Derbyshire Archaeological Journal.
2.8
The watching brief will be implemented in accordance with the following
method statement.
3.0 Method Statement
3.1
Mobilisation and staffing
3.1.1 Prior to the commencement of site works, a risk assessment will be
undertaken. If this results in any requirement to revise the watching brief
methodology works will be suspended until the implications are discussed
with the development control archaeologist and any revisions agreed.
3.1.2 The duration of the fieldwork and staff levels will be determined by the
quantity and nature of any remains exposed. Provisionally, the
observation of reduced excavation, mapping and recording element will
be undertaken by one archaeologist, but additional staff may be required
for investigation depending on the complexity and quantity of any
features.
3.2
Machine excavation
3.2.1 Deposits removed by machine will be excavated in spits of approximately
100mm and the resultant surface and spoil of each spit examined for
artefacts including random sieving of c. 30 Litre samples for artefact
recovery. Site preparation and soil stripping must be undertaken with a
toothless ditching bucket. Excavation of foundation and service trenches
should be by toothless or bladed bucket, although a toothed bucket or
concrete breaker may be used where necessary to remove obstructions.
3.2.2 Where significant archaeological deposits are identified, machine
excavation will cease and further investigation will be undertaken by
hand. Should significant assemblages of small remains such as flints or
metalwork be identified, the sample of soil sieved will be intensified and
scanned with a metal detector. Finds recovered from any such enhanced
sampling will be recorded with reference to a site grid to enable spatial
interpretation.
MCA 04-06 2nd Draft
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3.3
Hand excavation
3.3.1 Following hand-cleaning, as required, any identified features will be
investigated in order to establish the nature and chronology of the
deposit sequence.
3.4
Site Recording
3.4.1 As a minimum, the site stratigraphic sequence will be recorded within
each ground work unit (i.e. reduced level excavation, service trench
etc.).
3.4.2 Each distinct deposit will be given a unique context number and recorded
on a pro-former context sheet.
3.4.3 Sample sections of the stratigraphic sequence and plans and sections of
all archaeological features will be drawn at scale, nominally 1:20, but
other scales may be used as considered appropriate.
3.4.4 Structural remains will similarly be recorded and their constituent parts
further recorded, if necessary, on pro-forma brick and timber recording
sheets.
3.4.5 A 35mm photographic archive will also be produced in monochrome
supplemented by colour digital images of 12m pixels taken with a
professional grade DSLR in uncompressed TIFF format. Each frame will
include, where appropriate, a photographic scale and board with site
code, context number and direction of north.
3.4.6 Additional pro-forma record sheets will list drawings, photographic
descriptions, samples and finds.
3.5
Finds collection & Environmental Sampling
3.5.1 All artefacts excluding obviously modern material will be collected. Finds
will be bagged and labelled with the site code and context number of the
deposit from which they were recovered. Where remains are discarded on
site, a summary record of artefact type, quantity and reason for discard
will be recorded.
3.5.2 Any deposits considered suitable for environmental investigation will be
sampled in accordance with the Environmental Archaeology (English
Heritage 2011) guidelines. Where complex deposits of possible
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environmental significance are identified, a site-specific sampling strategy
will be prepared by an independent environmental consultant and agreed
with the DAC.
3.5.3 Waterlogged remains are not anticipated on this Site, but if deposits are
encountered that have the potential for a waterlogged environment then
a specific method statement will be prepared by an independent
environmental consultant and agreed with the DCA.
3.5.4 Account will also be taken of any deposits that have the potential for, and
merit, scientific dating.
3.5.5 If human remains are identified they will be initially left in situ and
reported to the Coroner, police and DCA. Should their removal be
considered necessary, this will be undertaken following receipt of a
licence from the Ministry of Justice. On completion of any analysis by a
suitably qualified osteologist, the remains will disposed of in accordance
with the terms of the licence.
3.5.6 Should any finds be discovered which might be construed as Treasure
under the auspices of the Treasure Act (1997), they will be reported to
the Coroner.
3.6
Monitoring and Completion of Fieldwork
3.6.1 The DCA will be given a minimum of one week written notice of the
commencement of fieldwork including the contact details of the site
operative who will provide the DCA with progress reports on an ad hoc
basis.
3.6.2 The DCA may exercise the right to monitor the implementation of this
written scheme of investigation on the behalf of the local planning
authority. The purpose of any such visit is to ensure that the fieldwork
element has been undertaken in compliance with this document and to
determine if any additional works are required.
3.6.3 When site works are complete, the DCA will be informed and the site
archive prepared.
3.7
Site Archive preparation
3.7.1 On completion of fieldwork, the DCA will be informed in writing. All
records will be checked for errors and omissions and corrected as
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necessary. Retained finds will be processed and treated in accordance
with A strategy for the Care and Investigation of Finds (English Heritage
1995) prior to their specialist assessment.
3.7.2 The range of specialist provision will be dependant on the date and type
of finds discovered, but it is anticipated that the following specialists may
be required:
3.8
Medieval and post-medieval pottery
Chris Cumberpatch/Jane Young
Environmental sampling
Archaeological Services WYAS
Industrial Residues
Rod Macenzie
Animal Bone
Archaeological Services WYAS
Human Remains
to be agreed with the DCA if
required
Report
3.8.1 A report on the results of the works will be produced once all specialist
reports are available. This document will include relevant background
material; a description of the methodology and a description and analysis
of the site deposits and finds.
3.8.2 The report will be illustrated by site drawings and a selection of frames
from the photographic record.
3.8.3 The layout and extent of the report will depend on what, if anything, is
found but is likely to include:
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Introductory statement
Aims and purpose of the project
Methodology
An objective summary statement of results
Conclusion
Supporting illustrations at appropriate scales, all to include levels tied to
Ordnance Datum. Drawings should follow the conventions developed in the
MoLAS Archaeological Site Manual (1994)
Illustrative site photography, including key features and working shots
Supporting data – tabulated or in appendices, including as a minimum a
basic quantification of all artefacts, ecofacts and structural data.
Index to archive and details of archive location; confirmation of archive
transfer arrangements including a provisional timetable for deposition.
References
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3.8.4 Copies of the report will be issued to the client for approval and then to
the DCA for approval. Once approved by the DCA, the OASIS form will be
completed and a copy of the report uploaded. A copy of the form will be
submitted to the Derbyshire Historic Environment Record along with a
hard copy and digital copy of the report in .pdf format, accompanied by
site images.
3.8.5 Once the final report has been accepted, the project archive will be
finalised in accordance with Procedures for the Transfer of Archaeological
Archives (Derbyshire Museums 2003). Where the projected results in an
object element this will be retained as part of the archive by Mayfield CA
Ltd or discarded in accordance with agreed protocols where deemed
acceptable unless the landowner exercises their right to retain it.
Archives with a retained object element will be temporarily retained by
Mayfield CA Ltd until arrangements are made for deposition with an
appropriate repository for long-term curation. Where the project results
in a paper element only (or the object element is discarded/retained by
the client) the paper element will be deposited with the Derbyshire
Record Office. The DAC will be informed in writing of the fate of the
archive and addition written confirmation given when the archives are
deposited.
3.9
Publication
3.9.1 The scope of publication will be dependant on the results of the watching
brief. As a minimum, however, a summary of the project supported with
illustrations and plates as appropriate will be submitted to the editor of
County journal Derbyshire Archaeological Journal for publication in a
future edition within two years from completion of the project.
3.9.2 Should the results merit wider publication, then an article will be
prepared for one of the national period journals.
4.0
Timescale summary
OASIS initiation
Prior to commencement of site work
Fieldwork
TBC by client
Archive
Prepared on completion of fieldwork
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Report
interim within six weeks and full report within six
months of the completion of fieldwork
OASIS completion
On acceptance of final report
Publication
within two years of the completion of fieldwork
Contacts
Simon Johnson
Mayfield CA Ltd
Steve Baker
Development Control Archaeologist 01629 – 539 773
MCA 04-06 2nd Draft
01246 – 232 335
07922 – 059 069
Sep 2012