Archaeological Surveys for Rural Sites

Archaeology is a sluggish process. You could start digging a hole just about anywhere but there’s no promise after weeks of painstaking excavation you’ll find anything. Archaeological surveys can help focus the sector ( literally if it’s a rural survey) and give an economical initial assessment of a possible area for excavation.

As mentioned, the original review of a rural area for archaeological excavation can include a rather large region. Different kinds of surveying the location might need great deals of time if they are to cover such distances. Archaeological surveys, however, are realtively inexpensive. Rural sites can be loaded with archaeological possibilities and the geophysical techniques of an archaeological survey are often used to recognise likely targets for excavation without the need for exploratory holes to be dug. The targets that are uncovered can include previous sites of habitation or settlement, or indications of past agricultural activity such as post holes, pits, field systems and enclosures. Relatively modern sites may also disclose signs of industrial activity which may form every bit as interesting targets for excavation (e.g. kilns and other industrial sites). Buried megaliths are yet another common target; they can be evidence of past buildings or religious ceremonies.

Whereas rural sites offer the challenge of covering a large area, evaluations in urban sites tend to cover smaller areas but have their own demands. Continual construction work and the installation of utility lines mean the ground will have been greatly disturbed. Any potential targets are going to be found at a much greater depth. Anyone conducting a geophysical survey is going to have to compensate for all of these factors. As well as the obvious ground level disruption, surveys have to deal with below surface installations which may cause interference or problems (e.g. pipes and subterranean structures). Studying the layers of rock is going to be made more difficult by the disruption previous work has inflicted. Most modern urban areas have been inhabited for hundreds if not thousands of years. The targets uncovered by an archaeological survey are likely to be related to previous industrial activity or habitation (e.g. building foundations, former road surfaces, town walls).

Archaeological surveys also have their part to play in examining the background of buildings as well as the earth on which they’re situated. Surveys of churches are likely to come across evidence of past burials on the site (e.g. tombs, burial plots, vaults, cists). Surveys made around the environs of other great structures (e.g. historic manor houses, castles, forts) typically discover evidence of how that spot was previously inhabited; the foundations of prior houses on that site, profiles of now-filled in moats, and historic gardens are typical finds.

SUMO Services offer surveying services nationwide. As well as archaeological surveys, they also conduct utility mapping, other geophysical surveys and measured building surveys. Contact them now for help with your planning application.

Urban Archaeological surveys

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