Suffolk: assessment of archaeological resource in aggregate areas
Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service, 2010. https://doi.org/10.5284/1000162. How to cite using this DOI
- Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund
- National Mapping Programme
- Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Digital Archives
Data copyright © Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
Primary contact
Jude
Plouviez
Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service
Bury Resource Centre
Hollow Road
Bury St Edmunds
IP32 7AY
Tel: 01284 352448
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 1008
- ALSF Project Number: 3987
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1000162
- How to cite using this DOI
Overview
The exploited mineral resource of Suffolk consists largely of sands and gravels, the principal areas of which lie in the east and northwest of the county. Overall, an area approaching one third of Suffolk has potential mineral resource, with numerous active permissions throughout.
The archaeological information base is the county Historic Environment Record (HER). There is a fluctuating but substantial amount of data awaiting incorporation into the HER.
Objectives
The objectives of the project can be summarised as follows:
- To provide a framework for examining minerals data;
- To improve the detailed archaeological and historic environment information for the minerals resource areas;
- To produce a detailed research and management framework for the historic environment in minerals resource areas;
- To make project information available for planning, industry and public consultation.
These objectives were met by examining a range of sources including geological data, the HER and its backlog, and aerial photographs:
- Initially potential areas of study were designated using the geological information to identify areas with extraction capability;
- The HER was updated in these areas to improve the quality of the existing data. The current backlog was collated and added to the existing database creating a fuller and more accurate record for each parish;
- Running concurrently with the HER work was an aerial photographic survey, part of the National Mapping Project, based at the English Heritage National Monuments Record in Swindon. This part of the project identified and mapped new and existing sites by examining all available air photographs of each area;
- Period based gazetteers and maps were produced of the areas using all the available historic environment information.
As a result of this initial work, a detailed management framework was produced to identify gaps in knowledge, identify areas of greatest future potential, define research themes and to propose future research. The project information is also accessible for planning, industry and public consultation, mainly through the use of the updated HER information.
The Digital Archive
The digital archive currently consists of the final reports:
- Good,C., Hegarty,C., Plouviez,J. and Rolfe,J. 2007: The Aggregate Landscape of Suffolk: the Archaeological Resource. Suffolk County Council Archaeology Service unpublished report.
- Hegarty,C. 2006: The Aggregate Landscape of Suffolk: The Archaeological Resource. Interim report for Aerial Survey component Areas One & Two: The Felixstowe Peninsula. Suffolk County Council Archaeology Service unpublished report.
- Hegarty,C. 2006: The Aggregate Landscape of Suffolk: The Archaeological Resource. Interim report for Aerial Survey component Areas Four & Five: The Waveney Valley. Suffolk County Council Archaeology Service unpublished report.
