COMPANY PROFILE
AS
is an independent practice specialising in all aspects of consulting
and contracting archaeology. It was formerly Hertfordshire
Archaeological Trust (HAT), formed in 1986 as an independent
educational charity and company limited by guarantee. Reflecting the
increasing commercialisation of archaeology, HAT was wound up in
June 2003 and Archaeological Solutions (Contacts) Ltd (AS) was
formed. The latter maintains the same staff complement and services
as before, and is a recognized Investor in People. AS
continues to undertake the full range of archaeological services
nationwide, and has produced over 2500 project reports to date.
Provision of Services
Archaeological Solutions manages its services in-house, from its
main office 98-100 Fore Street Hertford. The services are provided
by professionally qualified staff and are appropriate to
requirements of the client.
All
project staff are regularly monitored by management, both on and
off-site. AS is a member of the Standing Conference of
Archaeological Unit Managers (SCAUM) and operates under their Health
& Safety in Field Archaeology Manual (4th edition 2002, with
updates). Risk assessments are prepared in advance of all projects.
FIELDWORK
Trial Trench Evaluations
AS undertakes trial trench evaluations nationally, ranging
from deep, stratified urban sites (recent projects include sites in
London and Norwich) to large-scale rural projects (recent projects
include Red Lodge, Suffolk and South Witham, Lincolnshire). AS
has produced over 500 trial trench evaluation reports.
Examples include:
-
East
Ham Football Club, Beckton, London E6 (Report 728) J Murray & R
Scaife 2000 Archaeological/palaeoenvironmental evaluation in
advance of residential development
-
Land
at South Witham, Lincolnshire (Report 829) D Hounsell 2001
Evaluation in advance of limestone quarrying
-
Bisham Abbey, Bisham, Berkshire (Report 1094) N Crank 2002
Evaluation of SAM in advance of redevelopment of sports
facilities
-
Great
Casterton Primary School, Rutland (Report 1095) N Crank 2002
Evaluation in advance of housing development revealed Roman
inhumation cemetery
-
Duff
Morgan Garage, Norwich, Norfolk (Report 1011) N Crank 2001
Evaluation in advance of redevelopment - Stratified medieval and
post-medieval deposits
Historic Building Recording
AS has produced over 250
stand-alone historic building recording/assessment/appraisal
reports.
Examples include:
-
Leggatt's Park, North Mymms, Hertfordshire (Report No. 735) 2000
A Gibson Regency Mansion
-
Royal
Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey, Essex (Report No. 825) 2001 J
Murray 18th - 20th century former explosive manufacturing
complex, partially a Scheduled Ancient Monument
-
Ardale Community School, Essex (Report 1140) 2002 M Wotherspoon
Former approved school/poor house
-
The
Mill, Roxwell, Essex (Report 1321) 2003 M Wotherspoon 18th
century water mill scheduled for demolition
-
Wymondley Bury, Hertfordshire (Report 1367) 2003 M Wotherspoon
Post-medieval farm building complex
-
Rochester Row Magistrates Courts/Police Station, London SW1
(Report 1512) 2004 M Wotherspoon 19th/20th century court, police
station, stables and accommodation
Excavations
AS undertakes numerous excavation
projects nationally, ranging in size from small domestic extensions
to substantial mineral extraction projects and large-scale housing
developments (e.g. Cedars Park, Stowmarket). AS has produced
over 200 excavation reports.
Examples include:
-
Land
at 12 Oak Street, Norwich (Report 1045) T McDonald & N Crank
2002 Report on stratified urban excavation of late Saxon -
post-medieval date
-
St
Edmunds Church & Vicarage, Temple Hill, Dartford, Kent (Report
1129) L O'Brien 2002. Saxon inhumation cemetery and late Iron
Age occupation site
-
Land
South of the A120, Takeley, Essex (Report 1301) B Roberts 2003.
Extensive Romano-British field systems along Stane Street, with
earlier occupation
-
Clarence Street, Leicester (Report 895) N Crank 2001 Report on
extensive Roman inhumation cemetery excavated in central
Leicester
Archaeological Monitoring & Recording (Watching Briefs)
AS undertakes numerous archaeological monitoring and
recording projects (watching briefs) nationally, ranging from
domestic extensions to large infrastructure projects. AS has
produced over 270 watching brief reports.
Examples include:
-
St
Marys Church, Ealing, London W5 (Report 1157) D Hounsell 2002
Unexpectedly extensive late 18th century extensive vaults
containing lead-lined coffins
-
Takeley Sewerage Scheme, Essex (Report 1183) J Grant 2002
Monitoring of extensive infrastructure project
-
Coventry Canal Basin, St Nicholas Street, Coventry (Report 1348)
B Wilkins 2003 Monitoring of commercial canalside development
-
Manor
House, High Street, Ongar, Essex (Report 1361) B Roberts/I
Turner 2003 Medieval pits to the rear of 15th century manor
house.
Auger
Surveys
AS has carried out many hand and power auger surveys,
including a recent survey at St Mary's Church, Buckden,
Cambridgeshire (Report 1267). AS also uses external specialists such
as Palaeopol to undertake power auger surveys, under the project
management of AS (e.g. recently during an evaluation at Manor
Road, Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, in order to characterize
medieval moat fills (Report 1286)).
Earthwork Surveys
AS has carried out numerous earthwork surveys to RCHME
standard specifications. A recent project is the electronic
surveying of a SAM at Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, on an extensive
moated manorial site with house platforms and surrounding ridge and
furrow. A garden survey is also currently being undertaken at
Wheathampstead House, Hertfordshire, at the request of English
Heritage.
Geophysical Surveys
AS has carried out numerous geophysical surveys (20+) over
commonly using IFA Registered sub-contractors such as Stratatscan
Ltd.
Examples include:
-
National Sports Centre, Bisham Abbey, Berkshire (Report 967)
2001 Within the SAM of the Abbey
-
Proposed Football Club, Royston, Hertfordshire (Report 1209)
2002 Proximity of Scheduled Neolithic and Bronze Age barrows
-
Latimer Park House, Buckinghamshire (Report 1360) 2003 Survey to
assess presence of Roman remains in proximity to extensive villa
site
Aerial
Photographic Assessments
AS carries out numerous aerial photographic assessments
(using recognised external specialists such as Air Photo Services,
under the auspices of AS).
Examples include:
-
Block
Fen, Mepal, Cambridgeshire (Report 653) 2000 Assessment of
prehistoric fen edge and burial monuments prior to gravel
extraction
-
Berwick Ponds Farm, Rainham, Greater London (Report 916) 2001
Assessment as part of an evaluation of cropmarks on the Thames
terrace.
Monument Maintenance
AS is experienced in monument
maintenance and condition survey.
Examples include:
-
South
Mimms Castle, Hertfordshire (for English Heritage) Tree
clearance, identification and reinstatement of evaluation
trenches Protection and reinstatement of quarried partial face
of the Monument
-
Hunsdon House, nr Harlow. Frost protection, terram sheeting and
backfilling of brick moat bridge of 15th century Royal house
Desk-Based Assessment / Project Design Specification / Evaluation
Report / Post-Excavation Assessment / Excavation Summary Report /
Excavation Report / Publication Report / EIA / Application for
SAM/Listed Building Consent / Interpretation & Publicity Material /
Editing / Desk-Top Publishing Desk-Based Assessments
AS
has produced over 500 desk-based assessment/environmental impact
assessments.
Examples include:
-
Land
North of Riverside Station, Tilbury, Essex (Report 749) J Murray
2000 Assessment in advance of proposed large industrial
development
-
HMS
Nelson, Portsmouth (Report 1130) L O'Brien 2002 Assessment in
advance of proposed redevelopment of Royal Navy facilities o
A5631 Glenhills Way Leicester; Environmental Impact Assessment
(Archaeology) (Report 1179). J Grant 2002 - Assessment in
advance of route improvements o
-
Birtley Quarry ROMP, County Durham (Report 1371) J Grant 2003
Appraisal in advance of proposals to resume quarrying
-
Mangreen Hall Farm, Norfolk (Report 1340) L O'Brien 2003 Dating
of hedgerow boundaries as part of environmental impact
assessment
-
Land
at Orchard Street, Ipswich (Report 1377) J Grant 2003 Assessment
of site close to stratified remains of mid Saxon to
post-medieval Ipswich
Assessments & Publication Reports
AS has produced over 2000 project
design specifications; over 50 post-excavation assessments; and over
40 publication reports
Examples include:
-
17
Deans Yard, Westminster, assessment & updated project design
(Report 757) J Murray 2000. Assessment of deep stratified late
Saxon, medieval and post-medieval remains excavated adjacent to
Westminster Abbey
-
GSK
Site, Ware, assessment & updated project design (Report 1131) B
Roberts 2002 Assessment of excavation of part of small
Romano-British town including a thick section of Ermine Street
and associated roadside structures/burials
-
Land
South of Fosters End Drove, East Winch, Norfolk, publication
report (Report 1370) L O'Brien 2003 - Publication of
Romano-British rural estate, with a large aisled timber barn,
pottery kilns and enclosures
-
Northern County Offices, March, Cambridgeshire, publication
report (Report 1079) L O'Brien 2002 - Publication of prehistoric
Bronze Age crouched burials, enclosures and later occupation
Major
post-excavation projects that are in the process of print
publication include:
-
Cardinal West, Godmanchester (early/mid Saxon settlement and
Romano-British activity). To be published in Anglo Saxon Studies
in Archaeology & History vol 12
-
Station Road, Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire (large enclosed early
Saxon farmstead with over 12 grubenhauser, mid Saxon settlement
and large inhumation cemetery) To be published in Anglo-Saxon
Studies in Archaeology & History vol 13
-
Game
Farm, Brandon, Suffolk (Breckland Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron
Age occupation site with buildings, sealed by wind-blown sands
with post-medieval gun flint industry remains) To be published
as an occasional paper by East Anglian Archaeology
-
Viables, Basingstoke (large prehistoric enclosure). Submitted to
Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club
Recent
Examples of Listed Building/Scheduled Ancient Monument Consent
Applications include:
-
Bisham Abbey, Berkshire
-
Royal
Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey, Essex
-
Bundish Hall, Ongar Road, Fyfield, Essex
Recent
Examples of Interpretative/Publicity Material include:
-
Cedars Park, Stowmarket - Show Home display produced for Crest
Nicholson Plc
-
Ware
Priory, Chells Manor and the Prehistory of Thorley,
Hertfordshire - all published as inexpensive popular
publications
AS
uses several IT packages, the main ones are listed below, we also
use customised Access Data programmes.
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