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This document sets out a scheme of archaeological mitigation for the Ladybridge Farm planning application. The archaeological evaluation of the site recorded the heavily truncated remains of four pits containing small fragments of Neolithic pottery in addition to a number of shallow sterile features and natural swallow holes. A full assessment of these features has been made in the Ladybridge Farm Evaluation Report (FAS 2005).
An assessment of the significance of these remains was made in support of the application (An Archaeological Assessment of Nosterfield, Ladybridge Farm and the Thornborough Plain). This assessment used the criteria set out in PPG 16 for ascertaining whether or not archaeological features are of national significance. The significance of the deposits was also calculated using the scoring criteria employed by English Heritage in their assessment of archaeological features at the Stonehenge Visitor's Centre and the Stonehenge A303 Improvement. The results of both these studies supported our "professional judgement" (A303 Stonehenge Improvement - Environmental Statement p57) and shows that the deposits recorded on the site are not of national archaeological significance.
In considering this mitigation strategy the applicant draws attention to PPG16 which states "Minerals can clearly only be worked where they are found so they often differ from other forms of development in that there is not the same flexibility of choice of location." (para.11). It also states in reference to the CBI's Code of Practice for Mineral Operators that "mineral operators should consult archaeological interests in formulating planning applications, to ensure that archaeological factors are fully taken into account in the planning decision process." This mitigation strategy seeks to ensure that these archaeological factors are fully addressed within the planning application.
The impact of the mineral extraction at Ladybridge Farm will result in the complete removal of archaeological deposits on the site in the working areas. Consequently a scheme of archaeological works and planning gain has been designed to mitigate against this impact. The document is divided into two sections. The first deals with on site mitigation and the second addresses off site mitigation.
In view of the impact of gravel extraction on the archaeological deposits on the site it is proposed that any archaeological deposits are preserved by record. Preservation by record of archaeological remains is accepted practice. A local example is the excavation of the nationally significant archaeological remains of the Double Pit Alignment (Scheduled Ancient Monument - Number 36). This work was approved by English Heritage and undertaken by Dr. Jan Harding in 1998 when the monument was reportedly threatened with destruction by ploughing.
At Ladybridge Farm preservation by record will be achieved by a phased programme of detailed archaeological excavation undertaken in advance of mineral working. The archaeological excavation of the Ladybridge site will feed into a wider research of the area possibly undertaken in association with a leading University.
In addition to preserving by record archaeological deposits which may be present on the site it is intended that the work addresses a number of additional research questions.
A full Written Scheme of Investigation will be prepared and submitted to NYCC prior to the beginning of work.
Once planning permission had been granted for mineral extraction steps will be taken to ensure that arable cultivation on the Ladybridge Farm site ceases or is undertaken using reduced tillage methods in order to preserve what little archaeology is left.
Depending on the condition of the ground the entire site will be fieldwalked using total coverage technique. The location of all finds will be recorded three dimensionally using a total station theodolite or GPS system. The results will then be compared with those from the previous total coverage field walking undertaken by FAS in addition to the results from the widespread fieldwalking undertaken by Dr. Harding of Newcastle University. A reassessment of this material is expected to provide further information on the distributions of lithics on the site and provide answers regarding appropriate suitable methodologies and strategies to be used in the wider landscape.
Once the fieldwalking has been completed the site will divided into a series of areas phased for excavation. These areas will correspond with the phases of planned mineral extraction. Each area will be stripped, left to weather then investigated in succession. The work in each area will be completed before extraction can commence in that location. It is proposed that the south-western area of the Ladybridge Farm site will be temporarily excluded from the quarry workings to enable at least one season of public archaeology and/or university research to take place. This will also allow controlled public access to the excavation.
During the process of mineral extraction it is normal procedure for the mineral operator to create a 10m to 15m wide topsoil bund around the periphery of the quarry. This bund will be built directly over the current ploughsoil in Ladybridge Farm without topsoil stripping the area first. It is proposed that where the bund will remain after extraction has been completed then archaeological deposits will be preserved in situ in perpetuity. The full extent of the bund area is currently being discussed. The area to be preserved in this way could be as large as 3ha and include the western and southern edges of the Ladybridge Farm site.
Where tree planting is proposed to screen the extraction area along the margins of the site, the areas will be stripped in advance under archaeological supervision. Where archaeological deposits are present within the screen area it is proposed that they are left in situ and the scheme of planting altered to reflect this.
In each area of excavation topsoil and overburden will be removed using a 360º excavator fitted with a toothless bucket, working under the continuous direct supervision of a suitably experienced archaeologist.
Spoil will be removed from the site by dump truck to stockpile locations identified by the quarry. Plant will not be permitted to track across stripped areas unless these have been declared clear of archaeological remains. Dump trucks will operate in defined and clearly marked haul routes that have either been declared clear of archaeological remains or where archaeological remains have been appropriately protected from damage.
Topsoil and modern overburden will be removed in a series of level spits down to the top of the first significant archaeological horizon.
Prior to hand excavation of archaeological features the stripped area will be mapped using a total station theodolite to create a comprehensive pre-excavation plan of the site. This will be used to identify areas of potential, target resources and prioritise work.
All features of whatever origin requiring clarification will be cleaned by hand and recorded in plan at an appropriate scale. All features of probable archaeological origin will be investigated by hand in accordance with the following outline sampling strategy.
All archaeological features and deposits encountered during the evaluation will be recorded using pro forma recording sheets and a continuous unique numbering system. Plans at appropriate scales will be prepared, showing the areas investigated and their relation to more permanent topographical features. The plans will show the location of contexts observed and recorded in the course of the investigation. Other plans, sections and elevations of archaeological features and deposits will be drawn as necessary at scales of 1:10, 1:20 and 1:50 as appropriate.
The spot height of all principal features and levels will be calculated in metres relative to Ordnance Datum, correct to two decimal places. Plans, sections and elevations will be annotated with spot heights as appropriate.
Photographs will be taken as necessary to produce a photographic record consisting of monochrome prints and colour transparencies. Digital images will be taken to support report preparation but will not replace archive standard material.
Objects relating to human exploitation of the area that are exposed in the course of excavation will be recovered or, where recovery is impracticable, recorded. All finds will be recorded by context and significant objects will be recorded in three dimensions. All recovered objects will be retained unless they are undoubtedly of modern or recent origin. The presence of modern objects will, however, be noted on context records. In these circumstances sufficient material will be retained to elucidate the date and function of the deposit from which it was recovered. Animal bone samples will be recovered by hand during excavation and processed as part of the finds assemblage. Animal bone recovered from bulk samples will also be retained for analysis.
All finds will be processed to current best practice. All artefacts will, as a minimum, be washed, marked, counted, weighed and identified. Spot dating of finds will be undertaken during the course of the fieldwork in order to inform excavation strategy. Provision will be made for liaison with external finds specialists, including site visits, as appropriate.
Objects that require immediate conservation treatment to prevent deterioration will be treated according to guidelines laid down in First Aid for Finds (Watkinson and Neal, 1998). Full records will be made of any conservation treatment; these records will form part of the archive. Provision will be made for the on-site conservation of particularly fragile or unstable materials, including attendance by a specialist conservator, as appropriate. Specialist work on any metalwork, bone (including worked bone, human remains and other organic remains), industrial waste, ceramic material, glass and lithic material will be carried out as necessary. All metalwork will be X-rayed and stored in a stable condition along with other fragile and delicate material.
Provision will be made for the bulk sampling of appropriate archaeological deposits recorded during the investigation for artefactual, economic and environmental data. The environmental sampling strategy will take account of the publication Environmental Archaeology: a guide to the theory and practice of methods, from sampling and recovery to post-excavation (English Heritage 2002) and the recommendations contained in Environmental archaeology and archaeological evaluations (Association for Environmental Archaeology 1995). Bulk environmental soil samples of 30 litres will be taken from sealed archaeological features for plant macrofossils, small animal bones and small artefacts. Where the complete context volume is less than 30 litres, a 100% sample will be taken. Where appropriate, column and or spot samples for analysis of molluscan, pollen and other microfloral/faunal remains will be taken.
Additional bulk samples will be retained for long term storage for future assessment/analysis.
A high priority will be given to the sampling of anaerobic deposits where organic materials may be preserved. Bulk environmental samples will be collected from any peat or organic deposits present.
Bulk samples (including artefact samples) will be processed by standard flotation methods. Flots will be retained on a 0.5 mm mesh and the residues fractionated into 4 mm, 2 mm and 1 mm fractions and dried. The coarse fractions (>4 mm) will be sorted, weighed and discarded; any artefacts or animal bone will be extracted and retained. The flots will be scanned under a x10 - x30 stereo-binocular microscope and the presence of charred remains quantified, to record the preservation and nature of the charred plant and charcoal remains.
Recognised specialists will assess the survival and potential of palaeo-environmental evidence. The same specialists will also be retained to undertake further analysis, where relevant. Provision will be made for the processing and assessment of environmental samples during the course of the fieldwork, in order to inform the excavation strategy.
For environmental samples, assessment will aim to provide a record of the presence and quantity of remains (microflora, faunal or charred), which will allow identification of potential for further analysis where relevant.
A suitable specialist will make provision for archaeomagnetic dating of suitable deposits. Samples of suitable material will be retained for radiocarbon dating where contexts cannot be closely dated by artefactual or other means. Analysis of finds and environmental samples will be undertaken to a level commensurate with the aims and objectives of the investigation as set out in this document and in the WSI.
The progress and results of the excavation will be presented at regular intervals on a custom designed website. Following completion of the fieldwork for each phase of the excavation an assessment report will be prepared within six months. This document will be submitted to NYCC on completion and published on the website. Following the completion of all fieldwork a final assessment report will be submitted within 6 months. This will be followed by a final publication once appropriate analysis had been undertaken.
The assessment report(s) will be prepared in accordance with the standards set out in Appendices 4 and 5 of the document Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991). The assessment report(s) will present detailed proposals for further analysis, report production, publication and archiving, along with the strategies, resources and programme necessary to carry out such work.
An assessment of the potential of the archive (including, where appropriate, the archive from earlier stages of fieldwork) for further analysis will be undertaken. The assessment phase may include the following elements:
The assessment reports will contain, as a minimum:
The results will be presented in such a way that there will be no need for recourse to the archive.
All fieldwork will be undertaken under the overall project supervision and management of Mike Griffiths and Associates. All fieldwork will be directed by a suitably experienced Project Officer. The workforce will be demonstrably capable of carrying out the work required. In addition to experienced professional staff it is proposed that some aspects of the project will be undertaken in collaboration with a leading University. Student involvement in the fieldwork will be supervised by an appropriately qualified person to ensure that standards of excavation and recording are of a professional standard.
In addition to a regularly updated website the dissemination of results will also be achieved through the provision of displays, presentations and materials at Nosterfield Quarry Information Centre. If Health and Safety matters can be satisfactorily addressed there may be scope for organised site tours and public involvement in the archaeological excavation in the south-western corner of the Ladybridge Farm site.
An agreement is being sought between Tarmac Ltd and the appropriate museum to arrange the deposition of artefacts and all other archival material. Some material will be retained for display at the Nosterfield Quarry Information Centre as part of a permanent exhibition.
The archive will be prepared to the standards set out in Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991). The written archive will be prepared on clean, stable materials, and will be suitable for photocopying. The materials used will be of the standard recommended in Guidelines for the Preparation of Excavation Archives for Long-term Storage (Walker 1990). The archive will be prepared in accordance with procedures outlined in Standards in the Museum Care of Archaeological Collections (Museum and Galleries Commission, 1992) and in accordance with the requirements of the appropriate museum.
The written, drawn and photographic archive will be compiled to a standard that allows for the publication of a summary report. Digital data will be generated as part of the project archive. The digital archive will be prepared in accordance with nationally recommended guidelines.
All work will be undertaken within the terms of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Health and Safety Management Regulations 1992 and in accordance with the SCAUM (Standing Conference of Archaeological Unit Managers) health and safety manual Health and Safety in Field Archaeology (1997). Copies of Health and Safety Policies and Risk Assessments will be supplied to the Tarmac Ltd. All archaeological fieldworkers will be required to possess a Contractor's Safety Passport (Extractives/Quarry Products/Mineral Processing) in line with current protocol of Tarmac Ltd.
The applicant does not concede that the archaeological deposits recorded on Ladybridge Farm are of national significance. Currently the dating of the cursus, henges and other features has not been adequately resolved to prove a contemporary relationship between the recorded deposits and any particular phase of monument construction and use. Establishing such a chronology should be the priority of any further research in that area.
In order to mitigate against the impact of mineral extraction on the archaeological resource at Ladybridge Farm and contribute to the wider objectives of preserving the wider landscape of the core plan area, should planning permission be granted the applicant proposes to:
Whilst these are currently proposals in outline the following can be said:
The parcel of land to the northeast of the Northern Henge (Figure 1) is currently owned by Tarmac Ltd. It measures approximately 520m x 440m and covers an area of 19.4ha. The land is bounded to the south-east by Moor Lane, to the north-east by the Thornfield Road, to the north-west by Lancaster House and Village Farm and to the south-west by the Northern Henge and Camp House. This land contains approximately 1,500,000 tonnes of proven sand and gravel reserve. Previous archaeological surveys shows that this area contains the outer ditch of the northern henge, the cropmarks of a possible second cursus and is likely to contain the continuation of a single pit alignment and other pits which were excavated on Nosterfield Quarry to the north. It will almost certainly contain other archaeological features.
It is proposed that this land is given to the nation to be held and managed by a charitable trust. This would allow the area to be put down to permanent pasture in perpetuity and managed in line with the guidelines laid out by English Heritage in "Farming The Historic Landscape An Introduction For Farm Advisors" (2005 - jointly published by Defra, English Heritage and the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers, with assistance from the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group). For the first time ever a significant part of the Thornborough landscape and the immediate setting of the Northern Henge will be protected in perpetuity as an archaeological reserve .
An area of land at the western edge of Nosterfield Quarry measuring 2.0ha was not quarried for gravel. This area is currently under pasture and previously formed the bund at the edge of the quarry. A number of pits containing Neolithic material were excavated and recorded immediately to the west of this area and it is highly likely that similar deposits may be present here since they continue into the Ladybridge Farm area. The applicant proposes that this area will be donated to the charitable trust as an archaeological reserve to be held and managed in perpetuity.
An L-shaped parcel of land comprising three fields off Flask Lane is currently owned by Tarmac Ltd. These fields cover an area of 3.3ha and lie between Nosterfield Quarry and the village of Nosterfield. Archaeological investigation on Nosterfield Quarry immediately to the north and west recorded a number of pits, some of which contained Neolithic pottery and lithics. In view of the proximity of these features it is highly likely that these fields contain similar archaeological features. The applicant proposes to donate this land to a charitable trust to be managed in an appropriate manner in perpetuity.
In addition to the archaeological deposits within the areas granted in mitigation an area of approximately 7.5 acres (3ha) will be preserved within the margins of Ladybridge Farm which will not be worked for gravel. This will comprise a strip of land between 10m and 60m wide running around the western, southern and eastern edges of the quarry and includes a 65m wide area across the south-western corner of the quarry.
The applicant proposes to work with the current landowner to produce a comprehensive management agreement for the Northern Henge. Providing that Scheduled Monument Consent is granted it is envisaged that such an agreement would implement a programme of tree removal on the site. This would halt the severe damage that the monument suffers from trees being blown over and open up the best preserved of the henge monument for visitors. If this could be achieved a comprehensive topographic survey could be undertaken of the monument for the first time.
As the landowner of Thornborough Moor the applicant proposes to use its best endeavours to promote a comprehensive management agreement for the Central and Southern Henges with the current tenant. The objective of such an agreement would be to take the fields surrounding the monuments out of intensive arable cultivation with a view to the long term preservation of archaeological deposits.
The existing facilities at the entrance to Nosterfield Quarry will be made available for visitors to the scheduled ancient monuments . Parking for vehicles, toilet facilities and access to the information centre will be provided with safe access to the Northern Henge across the Thornfield Road and over a designated footpath across the land granted within this mitigation. These facilities currently exist and could be made available at no initial cost to the charitable trust. Along with a display or presentation housed within the information centre, the mitigation delivers public access to the monuments in an informed manner.
The applicant proposes to partake in a programme of research which seeks to study the environmental history of the wider landscape in conjunction with a leading university. This work will initially concentrate on identifying areas and features of high environmental potential in and around the Thornborough Moor. If appropriate, it is envisaged that this could be followed by a programme of sampling and analysis which would attempt to record the vegetational history of the area putting the monuments within their environmental context.
Together these proposals offer a unique opportunity to achieve the preservation in situ and by record of a significant area of the Thornborough Moor for all time. Whilst current stewardship agreements are voluntary and last for a period of either five or ten years, the applicant can guarantee, should planning permission be granted that a significant area of the immediate setting of the Northern Henge is put under pasture for perpetuity and that other areas of the archaeological resource are permanently put out of arable cultivation. The total area of land that this mitigation could deliver amounts to 68.5acres (27.7ha) which is over 60% of t he total area of the Ladybridge Farm Application.
Where archaeological deposits will be impacted by gravel extraction on Ladybridge Farm the applicant has ensured that these deposits will preserved by record through a comprehensive and detailed programme of excavation. It is planned that this process may also be undertaken in collaboration with a leading university and promote public access and involvement. Furthermore, as part of this mitigation the applicant is proposing to partake in association with a leading university a study of the wider landscape which will significantly add to our understanding and appreciation of the monument complex at Thornborough.
Mike Griffiths and Steve Timms
For Mike Griffiths and Associates
Association for Environmental Archaeology, 1995. Environmental Archaeology and Archaeological Evaluations
Balfour Beatty-Costain Halcrow-Gifford, 2003. A303 Stonehenge Improvement Environmental Statement
Defra, English Heritage et al, 2005. "Farming The Historic Landscape An Introduction For Farm Advisors"
English Heritage, 1991. Management of Archaeological Projects. 2nd Edition
English Heritage, 2002. Environmental Archaeology: a guide to the theory and practice of methods, sampling and recovery to post-excavation.
Planning Policy Guidance 16. Archaeology and Planning
MGA 2005. An Archaeological Assessment of Nosterfield, Ladybridge and The Thornborough Plain (assessment report)
FAS 2005. Garner-Lahire, J, Spall, C & Toop, N. 2005. 'Archaeological Evaluation. Ladybridge Farm, Nosterfield, North Yorkshire' (archaeological report: MGA website)
Thomas, N. 1955. 'The Thornborough circles, near Ripon, North Riding' Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, Volume 54: 7-20
United Kingdom Institute for Conservation, 1990. Guidelines for the preparation of Excavation Archives for long-term storage.
Watkinson D, & Neal A V, 1998. First Aid for Finds. United Kingdom Institute for Conservation and Rescue: The British Archaeological Trust