Digging the past
When something of archaeological value is teased from the ground during a major build or development, the story that unfolds goes beyond the site itself. But nothing would be found unless the right people were brought in to look for it.
An Iron Age cemetery containing four skeletons, 4,000-year-old flint axes, World War II gunning posts and Roman river walls. What do they all have in common? They were all unearthed as part of the enabling works done in the Lower Lea Valley for the Olympic Park in advance of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The archaeological investigation was conducted by the Museum of London with PCA and managed by Atkins, along with a small number of specialists. It spanned two years, involved digging over 140 trenches and was the largest of its kind in the UK.
Archaeology may not loom large in the imagination when standing in the middle of a building site, but it is an essential part of the environmental assessment process in most large-scale developments. Used effectively, archaeology can help to avoid damage to potentially significant finds and make sure that everyone – from the developers to the local community – views a project favourably from the start and long after the work is done.
Detective work
Atkins aims to help clients meet their local authority requirements while getting as much out the process as possible. Archaeology is taken into account right from the start of the planning process and excavation is only the tip of the iceberg. “What is uncovered is used to piece together what it was like in the past, how people lived and the topography at a point in time,” says Janet Miller, director of Atkins’ heritage team.
The results can be exceptional. For example, when upgrading work was required on a stretch of the A127 in Southend in 2003, early assessments identified the area as a potential site of Anglo-Saxon remains. Atkins ran a programme of fieldwork that resulted in the most exciting Anglo-Saxon find since the discovery of Sutton Hoo in Suffolk 70 years ago.
The rare objects in Southend provided archaeologists with fascinating insight into the region’s social history and once the work is completed, the town will also boast a unique and valuable visitor attraction. The story that emerges can often help to shape and enhance a development.
Beyond 2012
The archaeological discoveries of the London 2012 site have been an integral part of the ODA’s engagement with local community groups.
Taryn Nixon, director of the Museum of London’s archaeology arm, has worked with Atkins on various projects, including London 2012. “The excitement of a story comes into its own when information is being teased out of the ground, but it doesn’t stop there,” says Nixon. “A range of interactive community projects and museum initiatives are enabling people in the area to get involved in a very hands-on way in excavations and research and educational activities on the archived material.
“A lot of value can come out of archaeology because it is intrinsically educational, multidisciplinary and about people,” she explains.
Moreover, the work ties in with the ethos of the London 2012 Games. More than 1,000 residents of the five host boroughs have already seen the artefacts from the Olympic Park and learned about the history of their area through a programme of events.
Archaeology as an element of the planning and preparation process could easily be seen as a barrier by developers. But projects such as London 2012 demonstrate how archaeologists can manage the work effectively and turn what might be a negative into long-lasting positives.