ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING REPORT
LAND TO THE REAR OF THE WHITE HOUSE, EYKE
(SMR ref. EKE 018)
A REPORT ON THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING OF GROUNDWORK ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOUR HOUSES
(Application No. C/03/1691)
Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Report No. 2004/137
(OASIS Ref. Suffolkc1-3924)
Summary: Archaeological monitoring of groundwork associated with the erection of four houses on land to the rear of the White House, Eyke (NGR TM 3159 5172), was undertaken during summer 2004. Footings for all four houses were observed but no significant archaeological deposits were identified and no artefacts were recovered. This monitoring event is recorded on the Sites and Monuments Record under the reference EKE 018. The archaeological monitoring was undertaken by the Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service, Field Projects Team, with funding from the developer, Cedar Design.
Figure 1: Location Plan
(c) Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Suffolk County Council. Licence No. 100023395 2004
Introduction
Archaeological monitoring of groundwork associated with the erection of four houses on land to the rear of the White House, Eyke, was undertaken during summer 2004. Interest in the site is due to the fact it lies within 80m of the medieval church of All Saints and is likely to be within the historic core of the settlement. A Brief and Specification detailing
the monitoring work required was produced by the Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service, Conservation Team (Appendix 1).
The National Grid Reference for the approximate centre of the site is TM 3159 5172; for a location plan see figure 1 above. This monitoring event is recorded on the Sites and Monuments Record under the reference EKE 018. The archaeological monitoring was undertaken by the Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service, Field Projects Team, with funding from the developer, Cedar Design.
Methodology
Site visits were made to inspect footings of each house plot after they had been excavated
by the building contractor. The spoil was retained on-site in a series of heaps and the surface of these heaps was also briefly examined.
Figure 2: House Plot Locations
(c) Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Suffolk County Council. Licence No. 100023395 2004
Results
The plots were numbered 1-4 (see figure 2) although the footings for each were excavated
in reverse order with plot 4 being the first to be inspected on the 29th June 2004. The footings were cut to a depth of c.1.2m through a c.0.35m thick layer of topsoil which overlay a natural subsoil that comprised of yellow/orange silty sand and gravel. Occasional disturbances were noted but all were of a 20th century date and contained glass bottles and occasional pieces of plastic. The interface between the natural subsoil and the overlying topsoil was irregular and blurred suggesting the natural subsoil surface had not been truncated.
The other three plots were visited on 16th July 2004 (plot 3), 16th August 2004 (plot 2) and 23rd August 2004 (plot 1) and all revealed similar results to plot 4. The footings for each plot were excavated to varying depths due to slight variations in the natural subsoil and the proximity of trees, but all were of at least 1m in depth.
A length of roadway was to be constructed as part of this development but in the light of the lack of results from the monitoring of the footings coupled with the fact that the road- strip would be shallow and that the street frontage area was already heavily disturbed by the existing driveway and a garage block, this work was not monitored.
Conclusion
No significant archaeological deposits appear to have been damaged or destroyed by the development of this site. The footing trenches were cleanly dug and gave good opportunities to observe for archaeological features and deposits. Their absence suggests that, historically, this site has probably just been used as a garden area for properties that may have fronted onto the main street.
Mark Sommers 20th September 2004
Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Field Projects Team
APPENDIX 1
SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICE - CONSERVATION TEAM
?
Brief and Specification for Archaeological Monitoring of Development
REAR OF THE WHITE HOUSE, EYKE
Although this document is fundamental to the work of the specialist archaeological contractor the developer should be aware that certain of its requirements are likely to impinge upon the working practices of a general building contractor and may have financial implications, for example see paragraphs 2.3 & 4.3.
1. Background
1.1 A planning application (C/03/1691) has been made to develop for housing. The local planning authority have been advised that the site has high archaeological potential and that any consent should be conditional on a PPG 16, paragraph 30 condition. Assessment of the available archaeological evidence indicates that the area affected by new building can be adequately recorded by archaeological monitoring.
1.2 The proposal area lies within 80m of the medieval church and churchyard and has the potential to lie within the historic core of the medieval and earlier settlement.
1.3 In accordance with the standards and guidance produced by the Institute of Field Archaeologists this brief should not be considered sufficient to enable the total execution of the project. A Project Design or Written Scheme of Investigation (PD/WSI) based upon this brief and the accompanying outline specification of minimum requirements, is an essential requirement. This must be submitted by the developers, or their agent, to the Conservation Team of the Archaeological Service of Suffolk County Council (Shire Hall, Bury St Edmunds IP33 2AR; telephone/fax: 01284 352443) for approval. The work must not commence until this office has approved both the archaeological contractor as suitable to undertake the work, and the PD/WSI as satisfactory. The PD/WSI will provide the basis for measurable standards and will be used to establish whether the requirements of the planning condition will be adequately met.
1.4 Detailed standards, information and advice to supplement this brief are to be found in �Standards for Field Archaeology in the East of England� Occasional Papers 14, East Anglian Archaeology, 2003.
2. Brief for Archaeological Monitoring
2.1 To provide a record of archaeological deposits which are damaged or removed by any development [including services and landscaping] permitted by the current planning consent.
2.2 The main academic objective will centre upon the potential of this development to produce evidence for earlier occupation of the site.
2.3 The significant archaeologically damaging activity in this proposal is the creation
of the site roadway and the excavation of building footing trenches. These, and the upcast soil, are to be observed after they have been excavated by the building contractor. Adequate time is to be allowed for archaeological recording of archaeological deposits during excavation, and of soil sections following excavation (see 4.3).
3. Arrangements for Monitoring
3.1 To carry out the monitoring work the developer will appoint an archaeologist (the archaeological contractor) who must be approved by the Conservation Team of Suffolk County Council�s Archaeological Service (SCCAS) - see 1.3 above.
3.2 The developer or his archaeologist will give the Conservation Team of SCCAS five working days notice of the commencement of ground works on the site, in order that the work of the archaeological contractor may be monitored. The method and form of development will also be monitored to ensure that it conforms to previously agreed locations and techniques upon which this brief is based.
3.3 Allowance must be made to cover archaeological costs incurred in monitoring the development works by the contract archaeologist. The size of the contingency should be estimated by the approved archaeological contractor, based upon the outline works in paragraph 2.3 of the Brief and Specification and the building contractor�s programme of works and time-table.
3.4 If unexpected remains are encountered the Conservation Team of SCCAS must be informed immediately. Amendments to this specification may be made to ensure adequate provision for archaeological recording.
4. Specification
4.1 The developer shall afford access at all reasonable times to both the County Council Conservation Team archaeologist and the contracted �observing archaeologist� to allow archaeological observation of building and engineering operations which disturb the ground.
4.2 Opportunity must be given to the �observing archaeologist� to hand excavate any discrete archaeological features which appear during earth moving operations, retrieve finds and make measured records as necessary.
4.3 In the case of the roadway unimpeded access at the rate of one hour per 50 square metres must be allowed before laying of sub-base. In the case of footing trenches unimpeded access at the rate of one and a half hours per 10 metres of trench must be allowed for archaeological recording before concreting or building begin. Where it is necessary to see archaeological detail one of the soil faces is to be trowelled clean.
4.4 All archaeological features exposed must be planned at a minimum scale of 1:50 on a plan showing the proposed layout of the development.
4.5 All contexts must be numbered and finds recorded by context.
4.6 The data recording methods and conventions used must be consistent with, and approved by, the County Sites and Monuments Record.
5. Report Requirements
5.1 An archive of all records and finds is to be prepared consistent with the principles of Management of Archaeological Projects (MAP2), particularly Appendix 3.This must be deposited with the County Sites and Monuments Record within 3 months of the completion of work. It will then become publicly accessible.
5.2 Finds must be appropriately conserved and stored in accordance with UK Institute of Conservators Guidelines. The finds, as an indissoluble part of the site archive, should be deposited with the County SMR if the landowner can be persuaded to agree to this. If this is not possible for all or any part of the finds archive, then provision must be made for additional recording (e.g. photography, illustration, analysis) as appropriate.
5.3 A report on the fieldwork and archive, consistent with the principles of MAP2, particularly Appendix 4, must be provided. The report must summarise the methodology employed, the stratigraphic sequence, and give a period by period description of the contexts recorded, and an inventory of finds. The objective account of the archaeological evidence must be clearly distinguished from its interpretation. The Report must include a discussion and an assessment of the archaeological evidence. Its conclusions must include a clear statement of the archaeological value of the results, and their significance in the context of the Regional Research Framework (East Anglian Archaeology, Occasional Papers 3 & 8, 1997 and 2000).
5.4 A summary report, in the established format, suitable for inclusion in the annual �Archaeology in Suffolk� section of the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology, must be prepared and included in the project report.
5.5 County Sites and Monuments Record sheets must be completed, as per the county SMR manual, for all sites where archaeological finds and/or features are located.
Specification by: R D Carr
Suffolk County Council
Archaeological Service Conservation Team Environment and Transport Department
Shire Hall
Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP33 2AR
Date: 23 March 2004 Reference: /Eyke03
This brief and specification remains valid for 12 months from the above date. If work is not carried out in full within that time this document will lapse; the authority should be notified and a revised brief and specification may be issued.
If the work defined by this brief forms a part of a programme of archaeological work required by a Planning Condition, the results must be considered by the Conservation Team of the Archaeological Service of Suffolk County Council, who have the responsibility for advising the appropriate Planning Authority.