The principal aim of this project is 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.
Currently all planning applications for mineral extraction are
subject to consultation with the Archaeological Service. However,
responses to such consultation are always a one-off reaction to the
individual site with only a subjective assessment of significance
within local and regional landscape. Responses rely almost solely
upon individual officer’s experience of the county.
The core of the current archaeological information base is the
county Sites and Monuments Record (SMR). There is a fluctuating but
substantial amount of data awaiting incorporation into the SMR.
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 will be met by examining a range of sources
including geological data, the SMR and its backlog, and aerial
photographs:
- Initially potential areas of study will be designated using the
geological information to identify areas with extraction
capability;
- The SMR will be updated in these areas to improve the quality
of the existing data. The current backlog will be collated and
added to the existing database creating a fuller and more accurate
record for each parish;
- Running concurrently with the SMR work will be 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 will identify and map new and existing sites by
examining all available air photographs of each area;
- Period based gazetteers and maps will be produced of the areas
using all the available historic environment information.
As a result of this initial work, a detailed management
framework will be produced to identify gaps in knowledge, identify
areas of greatest future potential, define research themes and to
propose future research. The project information will also be made
accessible for planning, industry and public consultation, mainly
through the use of the updated SMR information. Copies of the area
maps and the period summaries and of the final management framework
will be made available through this site shortly.
The project was funded by the Aggregates Levy Sustainability
Fund (ALSF), administered by English Heritage and was
completed during 2007.
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