Evaluation

Archaeological evaluation is made up of a number of different techniques that are tailored to assess the archaeological potential of a site, often before planning permission is given. Evaluation usually involves one or more processes from the following:

Desk-based assessment

Test-pitting

Fieldwalking

Geophysical survey

Topographical survey

Trial trenching

Once evaluation is complete and the report submitted, the County Archaeologist will make a recommendation to the local planning authority about whether a condition for further archaeological investigation should go on the planning consent, whether the design of the development should be changed to avoid certain deposits or whether planning permission should be refused.