Archaeology Good Practice Guidance

7/30/2019 Archaeology Good Practice Guidance

1/9

If you require a copy of this guidance in an alternative format (large print, Braille or audioversion), or if your first language is not English, we can provide it in the appropriate format orlanguage if you ask us. It is also available in Welsh.

ArchaeologyGood-practice guidance

February 2013


2/9

Heritage Lottery Fund

Archaeology Good-practice guidance

2

Contents

1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 32. Archaeology in your HLF project ...................................................................................... 3

2.1 Archaeology as part of a wider project .......................................................................... 32.2 Projects that focus on archaeology ............................................................................... 3

3. Outcomes for heritage ....................................................................................................... 44. Outcomes for people ......................................................................................................... 45. First steps .......................................................................................................................... 46. Writing a brief ..................................................................................................................... 47. Archaeological investigations .......................................................................................... 58. Finds ................................................................................................................................... 69. Publication ......................................................................................................................... 610. Protected sites ................................................................................................................... 611. Specialist help .................................................................................................................... 712. Digital outputs .................................................................................................................... 713. Sources of advice and information .................................................................................. 7


3/9



3

1. Introduction

This guidance will be of help if your heritage project either has archaeology as its focus or if it

involves the practice of archaeology in some way.

Archaeology is a finite and non-renewable resource; it can contain irreplaceable informationabout our past, and once it is destroyed or removed, it is gone forever. Taking part in anarchaeological excavation can be one of the most exciting ways to find out more about ourhistory, but the process of excavation is itself destructive. Therefore, it is vitally important that allarchaeological investigations are carried out responsibly to ensure the information recovered isproperly recorded and made available for others to learn about.

We have produced this guidance to help you think about archaeology in your heritage project.

2. Archaeology in your HLF project

There are several ways in which archaeology can be part of an HLF-funded project.

2.1 Archaeology as part of a wider project

If your project involves physical work to a historic building, site, park or landscape, you mayneed to do some archaeological investigation as part of that project. The investigation work willhelp you to develop your project and make sure it does not harm the heritage. For example, ifyou are planning to install a toilet within a church, you may need to carry out a trial excavation(called an evaluation) to see whether the drainage works will disturb any human burials or

other evidence for the past, including previous phases of the church building or earlieroccupation of the site. The results of this work will allow you to plan the drainage to eitherprevent the archaeology from being damaged, or, if this is unavoidable, to ensure it is properlyexcavated and recorded. You might need special consent for this type of investigative work if thesite or building is protected or is under some form of legal agreement (see section 10).

2.2 Projects that focus on archaeology

Alternatively, your project may rely on archaeology and archaeological techniques to helppeople learn about and take an active part in discovering information of our past. Archaeology isa fascinating subject that offers many ways in which people can engage with heritage and learn

new skills, such as through projects that:

involve the community in archaeological investigations, such as excavation,landscape or building surveys , field-walking, research, or other forms of non-invasive techniques (e.g. geophysical surveys);

improve access to archaeological records;

improve interpretation of archaeological sites;

repair and consolidate archaeological monuments or remains;

acquire archaeological objects to enable greater public access or enjoyment.


4/9



4

3. Outcomes for heritage

If your project is focused on the conservation of archaeology, think about how it will be inbrought into better condition or better managed as a result of our grant.

If the primary aim of your project is to explore an archaeological site by carrying out a survey oran excavation, you may wish to show how the history of the site will be recorded and betterinterpreted and explained. We encourage you to write up your investigation and incorporate theresults into the local Historic Environment Record (see sections 5 and 9).

4. Outcomes for people

The practice of archaeology can be an excellent way for people to learn about their heritage andto acquire new skills, such as surveying or excavation techniques. Also, it can often be amotivating factor for people to come together to explore their common history, to socialise, make

new friends and have an enjoyable experience. Archaeology can be great fun!

5. First steps

The first step in your archaeology project is to talk to your local authority historic environmentservice or their archaeological advisor. They will be able to advise you on where to start andperhaps put you in touch with other organisations. They may also hold an Historic EnvironmentRecord (sometimes called a Sites and Monuments Record) containing information aboutarchaeological sites in your area, including whether they are protected or under some form oflegal agreement (such as an agri-environment scheme). You should show that you havediscussed your project with your local authority historic environment service or equivalent whenyou send us your grant application.

You could also look at community archaeology websites such as those hosted by the CBA andArchaeology Scotland (see below) and perhaps get in touch with other groups who have doneprojects. You could also look at our websitewww.hlf.org.ukto find out about other similarprojects we have funded to give you some ideas as to the range of activities you might want tothink about and the issues you may need to consider.

If your project involves the community taking part in an archaeological investigation, you shouldalso visit the Introduction to Standards and Guidance in Archaeological Practice (ISGAP)websitewww.isgap.org.ukand learn about good practice. This website provides valuable

information as to how to undertake your archaeology project responsibly as well as providing auseful guide to other sources of further advice and information.

6. Writing a brief

The next step is to write a brief for your project. This will help you to think about what work youneed to do, how it will be done and how much it will cost. The brief should include the followinginformation:

an outline of the work that needs to be done and when;

whether permission is required for the work and who from (statutory consents,permission for access to the land etc);
http://www.hlf.org.uk/http://www.hlf.org.uk/http://www.hlf.org.uk/http://www.isgap.org.uk/http://www.isgap.org.uk/http://www.isgap.org.uk/http://www.isgap.org.uk/http://www.hlf.org.uk/


5/9



5

what fieldwork techniques you will use;

what kind of specialist help and training you will need, how you will obtain it andhow much it will cost;

if you are doing an excavation, how you will protect and backfill the site oncework is complete;

how you will write up and make available the results of your investigation,including incorporating the results into your local Historic Environment Record;

how you will prepare and store the archive, including any digital outputs from yourproject (see section 12);

how the finds will be conserved and where any finds will be deposited (for displayand storage).

You can use the brief to help plan your project, to inform what you put in your application to usand to commission work from a specialist.

7. Archaeological investigations

If you want to investigate an archaeological site or historic landscape there are many differentways of doing it apart from excavation. For example, you could:

research the history of the site, using old maps and written sources such asdirectories;

walk the site in order to identify historic features such as field boundaries orearthworks (remember that permission is required from the owner to visit privateland);

map the site in detail to identify small changes in the land;

undertake an assessment of aerial photographs to identify any features whichmay not be visible on the surface of the ground;

identify wildlife and plant species which tell us about the past;

do a geophysical survey.

If you are intending to do an excavation, it is always very good practice to do this kind ofresearch first. You can also do archaeological work such as research and recording on historicbuildings and even vessels such as ships. If you are intending to repair or conserve a historicbuilding or vessel, it is a good idea to do some archaeological work before you begin. It will helpyou to understand the item, how it has changed through time, and also what is important aboutit.

Whatever you choose to do, your project team must include someone with the necessaryskills to supervise and carry out the proposed work (see section 11 below).


6/9



6

8. Finds

If you want to do archaeological work on land you do not own you must obtain the ownerspermission before you begin.

If you do find anything on someone elses land, then the items belong to them. If you find gold orsilver items which are more than 300 years old you have a legal obligation to report them underthe Treasure Act 1996. In Scotland all finds of archaeological or historical importance are theproperty of the Crown. Your local museum should be able to give you advice.

When you plan your project you will need to think about how you will study the finds and wherethey will be stored in the long term. It is best practice to seek the written consent of thelandowner to donate all finds to an appropriate recipient museum. You should try to obtain thisbefore you start your project.

9. Publication

There is no point in doing archaeological work, including excavation, unless you write up thatinformation and make it widely available to others. Otherwise the information you recover aboutour past may be lost forever. As a general rule, you should aim to produce a technicalpublication and ideally something more popular and accessible, such as a leaflet or a website.

We will expect you to include the cost of providing a report, archiving your data and publishingthe results of your investigation in your application. As a rough estimate, you should allow forabout four days of post-excavation and publication work for every day spent in the field. Again,your local authority historic environment service or their archaeological advisor will be able tohelp you with this. They will also be able to advise you on the best way of entering the results ofyour work into the Historic Environment Record.

In Scotland, an investigation summary should be prepared for Discovery and Excavation inScotland (DES), published by Archaeology Scotland. If your investigation is in England,Scotland or Wales you should consider submitting a description of your project report online, viathe OASIS system (www.oasis.ac.uk). This will also give you the opportunity to have your reportincluded in an online library of unpublished fieldwork reports, which is currently maintained bythe Archaeology Data Service. In Northern Ireland you should send your report to the NorthernIreland Environment Agency: Built Heritage Directorate.

You will need to think about how you make your information widely available before you start

your project.

10. Protected sites

Many archaeological sites are protected, by law, as scheduled monuments (or as listedbuildings). They might be in a conservation area or be protected as part of an agri-environmentagreement. This means that you may need to obtain consent for any work that you do on thesite, including excavation or geophysical survey. If you do not obtain consent, you could bebreaking the law.

Your local authority historic environment service or their archaeological advisor will be able totell you whether a site is scheduled (or a listed building), and whether you will need consent forany work. You can also find further details about scheduled monuments on the websites of the


7/9



7

statutory agencies, Cadw in Wales, Historic Scotland, English Heritage and the Northern IrelandEnvironment Agency (see section 13 below). If you are planning to investigate a scheduledmonument, you should always contact the appropriate statutory agency to discuss your projectbefore you apply to HLF. We will need to know they support your proposals and permission willbe granted.

11. Specialist help

If you are a community group thinking about doing an archaeological project you are likely toneed specialist help. Whilst your local authority may be able to help with initial advice, yourgroup may need some training in field techniques, and some help to ensure that your project isof a high quality. It is surprisingly easy to damage archaeological sites and lose importantinformation if you do not have the necessary skills. You can include the costs of a skilled advisoras part of your project. If this area is very new to you, you can also ask us about the possibilityof help from an HLF mentor.

12. Digital outputs

Many archaeological projects will produce digital material or outputs, such as digitalphotographs, drawings, data sheets, web sites or smartphone apps. We have specificrequirements for such digital outputs, which are set out in our terms of grant and explained inour good practice guidance, Using digital technology in heritage projects.

You might wish to consider depositing your digital archive with a digital depository, such as theArchaeology Data Service (see below), which has data migration and backup procedures inplace. You can include the costs for this service in your application.

Our standard Creative Commons licence (CC BY-NC) permits and encourages use and re-useof digital material, free of charge, for non-commercial uses. We recognise that data produced asa result of an archaeological investigation might be of considerable interest to archaeologicalorganisations engaged in commercial work, such as desk-based assessments. It is not ourintention to restrict the use of data in these circumstances, so if you ask us to make anexception to our standard licence for your data, we are likely to agree that information providedto the Historic Environment Record, Oasis or to Discovery and Excavation in Scotland may belicensed with the Creative Commons licence CC BY, which permits commercial use withattribution. Any digital outputs from your project that do not contain archaeological data will stillneed to be licensed with the standard licence.

13. Sources of advice and information

Archaeology Data ServiceThe Archaeology Data Service is a digital depository. It preserves digital data in the long term,and promotes and makes available a broad range of data in archaeology. In addition, The ADSpromotes good practice in the use of digital data in archaeology, it provides technical advice tothe research community, and supports the deployment of digital technologies.

www.archaeologydataservice.ac.uk
http://www.archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/http://www.archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/


8/9



8

Archaeology ScotlandThis organisation provides information about archaeology in Scotland. The website includesadvice and information about archaeological organisations and services, excavations andgetting involved.

www.scottisharchaeology.org.uk

Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers UK (ALGAO)Represents local authorities across the UK that have historic environment or archaeologicalservices. The ALGAO website provides useful contact information for all those historicenvironment services, as well as examples of archaeological conservation, management andcommunity involvement.

www.algao.org.uk

British Archaeology Jobs and Resources (BAJR)

A useful website that includes sources of funding and a list of legislation and guidance, as wellas contact information for archaeological companies and specialists.

www.bajr.orgCadwCadw is the Welsh Assembly Governments historic environment division. Its aim is to promotethe conservation and appreciation of Waless historic environment. The website includes asection of advice for owners, including advice on scheduled monument consent.

www.cadw.wales.gov.uk

Council for British Archaeology

The CBA is an archaeological charity working throughout the UK to involve people inarchaeology and to promote the appreciation and care of the historic environment for presentand future generations. There is a Young Archaeologists Club. The CBA runs a CommunityArchaeology Forum where groups can create pages about their project and there is a list of localarchaeological societies. There is also a useful list of publications on archaeological methodsand ideas for partnership funding.

www.britarch.ac.uk

Current ArchaeologyThis popular magazine has a useful website which includes advice and ideas for getting

involved.

www.archaeology.co.uk

English HeritageEnglish Heritage is the governments advisor on the historic environment in England. Thewebsite includes advice on archaeology, research and conservation as well as on scheduledancient monuments.

www.english-heritage.org.uk
http://www.scottisharchaeology.org.uk/http://www.algao.org.uk/http://www.bajr.org/http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/http://www.britarch.ac.uk/http://www.britarch.ac.uk/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/http://www.britarch.ac.uk/http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/http://www.bajr.org/http://www.algao.org.uk/http://www.scottisharchaeology.org.uk/


9/9



9

Historic ScotlandHistoric Scotland safeguards Scotlands historic environment and promotes its understandingand enjoyment on behalf of Scottish Ministers. The website includes advice on scheduledancient monuments.

www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index.htm

Institute for ArchaeologistsThe Institute for Archaeologists is the professional organisation for archaeology. It publishesstandards for archaeological fieldwork including nautical archaeology.

www.archaeologists.net

MagicThis site contains maps with information about the countryside including protected areas.Originally it was designed to cover England only but it has expanded to include someinformation on Scotland and Wales.

www.magic.gov.uk/projectsummary.htm

Northern Ireland Environment AgencyThe aim of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is to protect the naturalenvironment and built heritage for the benefit of present and future generations. It is an agencywithin the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland. The website includes details ofthe Monuments and Buildings Record and advice on scheduled ancient monuments.

www.ni-environment.gov.uk

Portable Antiquities SchemeThis is a voluntary scheme to record archaeological objects found by members of the public inEngland and Wales. The website includes advice on the conservation of finds and the TreasureAct.

www.finds.org.uk

Treasure TroveThe official website for Treasure Trove in Scotland.

www.treasuretrovescotland.co.uk
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index.htmhttp://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index.htmhttp://www.archaeologists.net/http://www.archaeologists.net/http://www.magic.gov.uk/projectsummary.htmhttp://www.magic.gov.uk/projectsummary.htmhttp://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/http://www.finds.org.uk/http://www.finds.org.uk/http://www.treasuretrovescotland.co.uk/http://www.treasuretrovescotland.co.uk/http://www.finds.org.uk/http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/http://www.magic.gov.uk/projectsummary.htmhttp://www.archaeologists.net/http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index.htm

Documents

Archaeology Good Practice Guidance