The principal aim of this project was to improve the quality of
information about the historic environment for use in making
archaeological decisions in response to current and future
aggregate industry extraction applications.
Background
The exploited mineral resource of Suffolk consists largely of
sands and gravels, the principal areas of which lie in the east and
northwest of the county. Overall, an area approaching one third of
Suffolk has potential mineral resource, with numerous active
permissions throughout.
The archaeological information base is the county Historic
Environment Record (HER). There is a fluctuating but substantial
amount of data awaiting incorporation into the HER.
Objectives
The objectives of the project can be summarised as follows:
- To provide a framework for examining minerals data;
- To improve the detailed archaeological and historic environment
information for the minerals resource areas;
- To produce a detailed research and management framework for the
historic environment in minerals resource areas;
- To make project information available for planning, industry
and public consultation.
These objectives were met by examining a range of sources
including geological data, the HER and its backlog, and aerial
photographs:
- Initially potential areas of study were designated using the
geological information to identify areas with extraction
capability;
- The HER was updated in these areas to improve the quality of
the existing data. The current backlog was collated and added to
the existing database creating a fuller and more accurate record
for each parish;
- Running concurrently with the HER work was an aerial
photographic survey, part of the National Mapping Project, based at
the English Heritage National Monuments Record in Swindon. This
part of the project identified and mapped new and existing sites by
examining all available air photographs of each area;
- Period based gazetteers and maps were produced of the areas
using all the available historic environment information.
As a result of this initial work, a detailed management
framework was produced to identify gaps in knowledge, identify
areas of greatest future potential, define research themes and to
propose future research. The project information is also accessible
for planning, industry and public consultation, mainly through the
use of the updated HER information.
The project was funded by the Aggregates Levy Sustainability
Fund (ALSF), administered by English Heritage and was
completed during 2007.
A copy of the text of the final report is available
here (.pdf file, 1.9mb)
The report on the NMP for the Felixstowe peninsula area is
available
here (.pdf file, 1.8mb)
The report on the NMP for the Waveney Valley area is available
here (.pdf file, 2.5mb)
More information
Recent archaeological excavations on quarries at
Barham and at Flixton (photo above, showing a Bronze Age barrow
under excavation).
Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund projects, administered by
English Heritage