Excavations and watching briefs 

Where archaeological remains are to be removed by development, the impact can be mitigated by archaeological excavations and watching briefs. These can be programmed  in advance of or during the development programme. Excavations (sometimes called strip, map and record) allow for an area of the site to be cleared of remains before it is developed. During a watching brief, an archaeologist will be present to observe groundworks and record any remains that are uncovered; additional archaeologists can be deployed to facilitate the development programme where required.  

We have a wealth of experience in conducting excavations and watching briefs in both rural and urban environments. We aim to minimise the time spent on site by deploying experienced teams who are fully equipped and trained with the latest survey and excavation techniques. Our excavation schemes have covered multi-hectare rural sites where the archaeological deposits have been present just below the topsoil, to urban sites where deposits can be present over a depth of several metres. Rural excavations might typically uncover the remains of prehistoric or Roman period settlements, whilst in urban environments remains often pertain to the medieval and post-medieval history of the town, as well as later industrial structures such as factories and mills. 

Following completion of work on site, assessment and analysis of the results (including artefacts and samples) is usually required, and presented in a report suitable for the planning authority. This work is conducted in our office and laboratories at Durham, utilising our team of post-excavation experts and specialists in artefacts and palaeoenvironmental remains.