junenews

Archaeology is the study of human history through
excavations and the analysis of artefacts, including
jewellery, pottery, coins, bones and skeletons. It
is against the law to cause reckless or deliberate
damage to archaeological remains and to remove
them if found.
Typical signs of archaeology include burnt or
blackened material, brick or tile fragments, pottery
or bone fragments, skeletons, timber joists, post
holes, brick or stone foundations and in-filled
ditches.
What to do if you think you have found
archaeological remains;
Thanks to the great care taken by eight2O
during construction work, we’ve managed
to recover fragments of stoneware pottery
and clay pipes dating to the 17th century
from riverine silts beneath the embankment.
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• STOP work immediately and remove any machinery
from the excavation
• CONTACT your eight2O Site Agent who will inform
the Environmental Advisor (Via CSIM for SMB)
• DO NOT start work again until an archaeologist
has been to site and handed the site back over
Archaeological Watching Briefs (AWB)
If the Preliminary and Third Party Assessment
(PE3PA) and/or your Implementation Environmental
Management Plan (IEMP) states the need for an
AWB, you must ensure that an order has been raised
and that an archaeologist is on site when you start
breaking out.
If I am working in disturbed ground do I need
an AWB?
Yes – archaeological artefacts are discovered all the
time in pre-disturbed ground.
Case Study 1: Discovery under an AWB at
St Pauls
Works on a Victorian water main (1.8m deep) right in
the heart of London revealed remains of a 17th century
building and cathedral, including brick walls, floors and
cellars.
Case Study 2: eight2O Archaeological
Discovery in Henley
Under an AWB for a FLIP pump station installation in
Henley, archaeological remains were uncovered. The
most interesting find, was a large wooden stake, found
over 2m below the ground surface. Archaeologists hope
to establish the age of this, by radiocarbon dating or
dendro-chronology (tree-ring dating).