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Prof
Tony
Brown
School of Geography
University of Southampton
Shackleton Building
Highfield
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
UK
Tel: 023 8059 5493
The archive from this ALSF funded project consists of a position paper that examines the relationship between aggregate-related archaeology and the environment both in terms of the effects of probable environmental change on the archaeological resource and the wider environmental context.
There has been a recent increase in research on floodplain hydrogeology and this research coupled with studies of the effects of quarrying on floodplain hydrogeology has the potential to provide an evidentially-based approach to the management of floodplain archaeology, preservation in situ and re-burial. It is suggested that state of the art hydrogeological long-term monitoring of at least two aggregate sites with adjacent archaeology should be considered, and this could be coupled with 3D groundwater modelling, and in addition a feasibility study is made of requiring 3D groundwater modelling before preservation in situ or by re-burial. There are currently many environmentally-related pressures on the aggregates industry and several have the potential to change the distribution of aggregate quarrying and working practices and so it is suggested that some analysis be undertaken on the likely effects of changes in H & E, Environmental and other legislation and regulation on both the pattern and working methods of aggregate quarrying in England. In particular any move towards wet rather than dry working would have serious archaeological repercussions.