Archeritage services

Whether your project is large or small, we are able to provide services to meet your needs. We also regularly work with other professionals enabling us to put together flexible multi-disciplinary teams. For further details of our services, click on the links below.

• Planning consultancy

  Early consultation is critical for all development projects. You need to be aware at an early stage if archaeological or heritage issues need to be considered. We understand the potential impacts archaeology can have on your construction timetable and budget. We will guide you through the relevant planning policies, and give you expert advice at all stages of your project. We will develop the most suitable approach, tailored to your own particular needs. We also put together applications for consent for works to Listed Buildings and Scheduled Ancient Monuments.

• Assessments and Heritage Statements

  The collation of information from a variety of sources is usually the first stage of an archaeological investigation.

  • Heritage Statements
    state the significance of heritage assets, and allow consideration of impact to the assets’ setting.
  • A Desk-based Assessment
    is often the first stage of an archaeological project. We gather the known information about a site from a wide range of sources. This information is combined with a site visit to allow us to understand the archaeological potential of the site.
  • An Environmental Impact Assessment
    (EIA) may be required for larger schemes. We will use the results of a desk-based assessment to form the baseline data for the EIA.

• Management Plans

  • Conservation Management Plans
    may be undertaken to establish the significance of a site, building or landscape, and to establish policies and guiding principles for its long term management and care. They generally involve input from a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Higher Level Stewardship
    (HLS) agreements are a mechanism to deliver environmental benefits in certain priority areas. We carry out archaeological surveys to contribute to datasets for the development of Farm Environment Plans and HLS.

• Evaluation

  Archaeological evaluation is a method of testing the potential archaeology of an area, whilst causing minimum disturbance to the deposits. You may be required to evaluate your site before planning consent is given. There are several evaluation techniques:

  • Geophysical surveys
    offer a rapid and cost-effective mechanism for detecting buried archaeological features.
  • Fieldwalking
    involves the collection of artefacts from the surface of ploughed land.
  • Augering & boreholes
    may be used to test deeper soils, and to determine the potential for palaeoenvironmental deposits.
  • Trial trenching
    is carried out using a carefully controlled mechanical excavator. The trenches are positioned to examine a representative sample of the site.

• Excavation

  A mitigation strategy may be required if archaeological deposits have been discovered during evaluation works:

  • A watching brief
    is a relatively low-level archaeological intervention. It involves an archaeologist monitoring groundworks such as service trenches or topsoil stripping. The archaeologist will record features immediately, and the development work can proceed.
  • Excavation
    of an area may be required if significant archaeological remains are discovered. It can sometimes be more cost effective to alter the design of a scheme to allow archaeological features to be preserved in the ground. If this is not possible, excavation works can usually be designed to fit in with other professional activities on a site, to ensure that development works can progress.

• Metric Survey

  Digital spatial data now forms an integral part of almost every archaeological project. Our Geomatics team use digital data techniques to capture, store and interpret data for a wide range of projects. We use GIS, GPS, laser scanning and Total Station equipment for data capture, and to produce interpretative site plans, topographical surveys, 3D models and landscape character zones.

• Built Environment

  Historic buildings are key element of our built environment. The recording and analysis of historic buidlings often requires input from a variety of specialists.

  • Historic Buildings Analysis
    Our recording techniques include visual analysis, metric survey, medium format photography, hand-measured surveys and laser scanning.
  • Specialist Assessments
    We work with specialists who provide Dendrochronological Assessments, to tell us whether timbers are suitable for tree-ring dating, and Conservators who analyse historic paints, wallpapers, mortars and other surface finishes.
  • Conservation Area Appraisals
    We provide specialist input into Local Development Frameworks, on behalf of local authorities or masterplanning consultants.

• Historic Landscapes

  We offer a suite of landscape approaches and analytical techniques:

  • Walkover surveys
    are a rapid way to assess and map the archaeological features within an area, at an early stage of project planning.
  • Upland surveys
    are undertaken through a combination of GPS survey and the analysis of historic maps, Historic Environment Records, aerial photographs and LiDAR data.
  • Designed Landscapes
    such as historic parks and gardens are analysed through archive research, archaeological and ecological surveys.

• Post-excavation & Conservation

  Our York office has one of the largest conservation laboratories in the UK, and we conserve objects from around the world. Our facilities also incorporate the York Archaeological Wood Centre, a specially developed centre for the study, recording and conservation of waterlogged organic material; we have a suite of tanks and freeze-dryers capable of handling items up to 4m in length. Many of the items we conserve are destined for display in national museums. We work with a wide range of in-house and external specialist to analysis and research artefact types of all periods.

• Outreach & Community Projects

  We help local groups to set up their own archaeology or heritage projects. We can provide advice and help with funding applications and help people to design exciting and interesting projects within a framework of best professional practice.

• Interpretation & Publication

  Public appreciation for archaeological discoveries is continually increasing. From a simple interpretation panel, to the design of a heritage trail, audio tour, exhibition or oral history book, we can make sure that the heritage value of your site is maximised, giving you great PR opportunities and providing a real public benefit. We have in-house publication facilities, and produce academic papers, monographs, popular books and pamphlets to disseminate the results of your project.