29th EAA Conference - JMHS's paper will be presented on the 31st of September at 15:15!

ARCHAEOLOGY IN MODERN QUARRIES OF THE UK: PLANNING POLICY, METHODOLOGIES AND IMPACTS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A SMALL-TO-MEDIUM-SIZED ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT

Braun, Brandon - Guaggenti, Alessandro (John Moore Heritage Services)

Material extraction at modern quarries radically alters the landscape, impacting not only the natural environment, but also historical and cultural environment. By its very nature, quarrying permanently removes the archaeological horizons in which any extant cultural features exist. In the UK, this risk of loss is mitigated by legislation and policy guidance as part of the planning process for any project, primarily through the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which grew out of the PPG16 policy introduced in 1990, based on the ‘polluter pays’ principal. The NPPF was originally published in 2012, was updated in 2019 and is currently under review as of 2023.

Over that same period in the last decade, John Moore Heritage Services (JMHS) has undertaken more than a dozen developer-funded projects, ranging from desk-based assessments to various stages of fieldwork, at several quarry sites around England. Several on-going projects are distributed throughout the archaeologically significant areas of the Upper and Middle Thames valley, a number of which are presented here as case studies. This paper analyses these projects, examining how the methodologies and research aims satisfy the current requirements of the NPPF and how this has changed over time. It also addresses the importance of projects at quarry sites for a small-to-medium sized archaeological units such as JMHS, reflecting on the challenges posed and opportunities offered to the company and the archaeologists employed within them. At the same time, the paper emphasizes the relative strengths of heritage companies such as JMHS in the context of modern quarries, such as their ability to build durable professional relationships or to quickly adapt time scales and methodologies as needed for site/project specific circumstances. Finally, the paper discusses issues regarding the relevance of archaeology within the wider industry it is embedded within, in the context of quarry excavations.

JMHS will be at the 29th EAA Annual Meeting!

Our Project Officer Brandon Braun and Geomatics Manager Alessandro Guaggenti will present a paper titled ‘Archaeology in modern quarries of the UK: Planning policy, methodologies and impacts from the perspective of a small-to-medium-sized archaeological unit’ at the 29th EAA Annual Meeting in Belfast, Northern Ireland!

Archaeological Achievement Awards

We’re excited to share the news that our very own Grace Griffith has been awarded the Archaeological Achievement Award in the category of 'Early Career Archaeologist'!

The awards, established in 1976 and now run by the Council for British Archaeology (CBA), were judged by an expert panel of representatives from professional archaeological institutes, federations, and educational bodies around the UK.

The event celebrated a whole host of inspirational projects and individuals, and was very exciting to be a part of! See the full list of winners here: https://www.archaeologyuk.org/resource/archaeological-achievement-awards-2021-winners-and-highly-commended.html, and watch the awards ceremony here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF7_dzecKT8.

Thanks again to the Council for British Archaeology for hosting the event, and the Royal Archaeological Institute for sponsoring the Early Career Archaeologist award.

 

Well done Grace!

 

Top 5 Oxford Finds/Digs of 2020

Great to be named in David Radford’s (Oxford City Archaeologist) Top 5 Oxford Finds/Digs of 2020!

Barton Village Road, Oxfordshire

Between 2013 and 2020 John Moore Heritage Services carried out a number of archaeological investigations at Barton Village Road, Oxford. The site is especially notable as it forms one of the few surviving elements of medieval and post-medieval Barton, in addition to the adjacent Barton Village Road.

The work was undertaken as a part of the planning process, both prior to and during the redevelopment of the site.

Initial work consisted of a desk-based assessment that served to identify the archaeological and historical importance of the site and also to establish the likelihood for the survival of archaeological remains within the site. This was followed in 2019 by trial trenching which revealed that archaeological remains dating to the medieval and post-medieval periods survived within the site. Also undertaken between 2019 and 2020 was a programme of building recording that allowed two historic walls to be documented and investigated.

Medieval and post-medieval wall recorded by John Moore Heritage Services at Barton Village Road, Oxford

Medieval and post-medieval wall recorded by John Moore Heritage Services at Barton Village Road, Oxford

St Mary's Church, Wargrave (March 2018)

Check out this article published in the Henley Standard last week about one of our sites in Berkshire. The site has produced evidence of over 90 individuals and associated artefacts dating to the earliest use of the area by the church. It is a very important assemblage for gaining insight into the history of Wargrave and the people who have historically resided there. Though many of the surviving, articulated burials were later than 17th century, there is a great deal of evidence of older burials and some which could date to the medieval period - or possibly even earlier. It should be noted that more than one of the burials are thought to pre-date the 18th century. 

http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/church-services/122571/bones-from-middle-ages-uncovered-during-building-work-for-church-annexe.html

Above: Printed article clipping from the Henley Standard, 2 March 2018.

Above: Printed article clipping from the Henley Standard, 2 March 2018.

Archaeology Open Day - Ipswich

We had a lovely day showing off the archaeology to the community at our Archaeology Open Day in Ipswich back in October. We had an opportunity to answer questions, explain the artefacts and even learn a bit about the more recent history from the people who have lived here for generations! It is always a treat to get to share our discoveries from the past with people who are interested in their local history. 

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The Old Gaol (Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire)

The Old Gaol property development is located on the longest continuously occupied street in the UK. With finds dating back as far as the Paleolithic recovered in the area, it is arguably in an area of great significance. The remains of a Napoleonic prison had occupied a lovely spot on the bank of the Thames for many years, struggling to find a good use in the community. Planning permission granted the conversion of the historic site into residential use on the condition that archaeological investigations took place and were fully explored. 

The excavations began in 2007 and ran for nearly a year! The finds were astonishing and are still being written up for publication, so watch this space!

East Anglia

East Anglia has a rich and vibrant history including Neolithic sites such as Grimes Graves, Anglo-Saxon sites like Sutton Hoo and early Medieval sites like Orford Castle. 

We have been working on large scale infrastructure sites across the region and have come across some fantastic archaeology along the way. We work with our clients to provide the most efficient and accurate processing of excavation sites possible. Together we can work to preserve British heritage whilst facilitating a more economical and sustainable future for each other and our children after us.