Derbyshire and the Peak District Archaeology and Aggregates Resource Assessment
Archaeological Research Services Ltd, Derbyshire County Council, Peak District National Park, 2011. https://doi.org/10.5284/1011882. How to cite using this DOI
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Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 1110
- ALSF Project Number: 5707
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1011882
- How to cite using this DOI
Overview
Derbyshire and the Peak District is the most heavily quarried area of the British Isles, due to its diverse geology and the richness of its mineral wealth, which has attracted settlement and industry for millennia.
This project characterises and analyses the archaeological resource in relation to aggregate bodies for Derbyshire and the Peak District through application of the landform element approach. The landform element approach seeks to partition the landscape by delimiting distinct geomorphological units and then identifying their archaeological associations, the degree of preservation and the type of evaluation and mitigation techniques that can be usefully applied. The geology of Derbyshire and the Peak District is divided into discrete landform units and specific archaeological associations have been identified for each unit through analysis of the archaeological resource using the mapped data acquired from the aerial photographic transcription component of this project and by analysing the Historic Environment Record data and the National Monuments Record data in a GIS environment. With archaeological associations identified, it is possible to use this study to underpin decision-making and programmes of archaeological work in response to aggregate development. Furthermore, this study should assist in identifying the most suitable evaluation and mitigation techniques, designed to maximise the knowledge gain, whilst also providing the most economic methodology for mineral operators.
Although specific to Derbyshire and the Peak District, this study has taken cognisance of neighbouring counties, particularly Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire and Leicestershire, who together share the majority of the aggregate-rich Trent Valley. Through close co-operative working with allied projects in these counties it is intended that a more consistent approach and archaeological responses to mineral extraction in this area will be achieved, in accordance withthe aims of the national practice guide.
The key areas studied by this project contain reserves of crushed rock aggregates, particularly Carboniferous and Magnesian Limestone, sand and gravel, and to a lesser extent crushed sandstone. The main sources of sand and gravel are in the impressive river valleys of south Derbyshire: the Trent and the lowerreaches of the Derwent and Dove. The Sherwood Sandstones to the north-west of Derby provide crushed rock aggregatestogether with sandstone aggregate derived from the Millstone Grit series rocks of the Peak District, thoughthe main sources are the Carboniferous Limestone of the White Peak and the Magnesian Limestone in the northeast of the county.
