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St. Mary’s Church, London Road, Greenhithe, Kent:
A Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological
Evaluation
Planning Application: DA/10/01465/FUL National Grid Reference
Number: TQ 58595 74674
AOC Project No: 32358 Site Code: MAG13
Date: February 2013
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© AOC Archaeology Group 2013
© AOC Archaeology 2013 | i | www.aocarchaeology.com
www.aocarchaeology.com
St Mary’s Church, London Road, Greenhithe, Kent:
A Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological
Evaluation
On Behalf of: St Mary Greenhithe Parochial Church Council St
Mary’s Church London Road Greenhithe DA9 9ND National Grid
Reference (NGR): TQ 58595 74674 AOC Project No: 32358 Prepared by:
Les Capon Illustration by: Gísli Pálsson
Date: February 2013
This document has been prepared in accordance with AOC standard
operating procedures. Author: Les Capon Date: February 2013
Approved by: Paul Mason Date: February 2013 Draft/Final Report
Stage: Draft Date: February 2013
Enquiries to: AOC Archaeology Group Unit 7 St Margarets Business
Centre Moor Mead Road Twickenham TW1 1JS Tel. 020 8843 7380 Fax.
020 8892 0549 e-mail. [email protected]
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Contents Page
1
Introduction............................................................................................................................................................
1 2 Planning
Background............................................................................................................................................
1 3 Geology
..................................................................................................................................................................
1 4 Archaeological and Historical
Background.........................................................................................................
2 5 Aims of the Investigation
......................................................................................................................................
3 6 Scope of Works and Strategy
...............................................................................................................................
4 7
Methodology...........................................................................................................................................................
4 8 Report and Archive
Preparation...........................................................................................................................
7 9 Health and
Safety...................................................................................................................................................
8 10 General
...................................................................................................................................................................
9 Appendix A – General
.....................................................................................................................................................
15 Appendix B – Specialist
Staff.........................................................................................................................................
17 Appendix C – Kent Archaeology Fieldwork Notification Form
...................................................................................
18 Appendix D – OASIS Form
.............................................................................................................................................
19 Appendix E – Archaeological Archive Consent Form
.................................................................................................
21
Illustrations Figure 1 – Site Location
Figure 2 – Trench Location Plan
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1 Introduction 1.1 This document is a Written Scheme of
Investigation (WSI) setting out a methodology for an
archaeological evaluation at St Mary’s Church, London Road,
Greenhithe, Kent (Figure 1).
1.2 The development site is located on the southern side of
London Road, northeast of Bean Road, which is east of the
roundabout on St Clements Road/Station Road. Mounts Road bounds the
site to the east. The site is located at National Grid Reference
(NGR) TQ 58595 74674 and is roughly rectangular in plan. The site
measures 2,430 sqm.
1.3 The site is dominated by St Mary’s Church, which stands
largely on a flat terrace raised above the natural slope of London
Road, with a sharp drop on the western side. The site also contains
a hall and rectory (Figure 2).
1.4 The development consists of excavations in advance of a new
car park, car park entrance, associated works and a detached
garage.
1.5 This WSI details how the evaluation will be carried out. All
works will be undertaken by a team of professional
archaeologists.
2 Planning Background 2.1 The local planning authority is
Dartford Borough Council. Archaeological advice to the borough
is
provided by Wendy Rogers of Kent County Council.
2.2 The site lies within an area of archaeological potential,
due to past discoveries of Roman burials, prehistoric tools, as
well as Roman settlements. The underlying geology of Boyn Hill
Gravels contains important remains of Palaeolithic date, and, if
present, would be considered of national importance.
2.3 Planning permission was granted under the application
DA/10/01465/FUL. A condition was attached to the permission which
states:
No development shall take place until the applicant has secured
and had implemented a programme of archaeological work in
accordance with a written specification and timetable which has
been submitted to and approved by or on behalf of the Local
Planning Authority.
2.4 Wendy Rogers (KCC) has subsequently produced a specification
for archaeological evaluation comprising the excavation of five
trial trenches (KCC 2013).
2.5 This WSI forms the first stage of works and details the
methods and standards to which the evaluation will be undertaken
and was designed in accordance with current best archaeological
practice and local and national standards and guidelines:
• English Heritage – Management of Archaeological Projects (EH
1991). • Institute for Archaeologists – Code of Conduct (IfA 2010).
• Department for Communities and Local Government - National
Planning Policy Framework
(NPPF 2012).
3 Geology 3.1 The British Geological Survey (BGS 2012) shows the
site to be located on bedrock of Upper Chalk.
However, just 30m to the southeast and 200m to the northeast,
the chalk is overlain by Boyn Hill Gravels. This appears to be more
extensive than that depicted on the BGS mapping, and may extend
onto the site. Southwest of the church, Head deposits overlie the
chalk.
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3.2 The site lies on a terrace at around 15mOD as London Road
drops from a crest near Ingress Abbey at 31mOD to 8mOD at the
roundabout with Station Road.
4 Archaeological and Historical Background The information below
has been extracted and summarised from the Kent County Council
specification, and previous documents produced by AOC Archaeology
for work in the area.
4.1 The Prehistoric Periods
(Palaeolithic c. 500,000 – 10000 BC; Mesolithic c. 10000 to 4000
BC; Neolithic c. 4000-2200 BC; Bronze Age c. 2200-700 BC and Iron
Age c. 700 BC - AD 43)
4.1.1 The earliest archaeological evidence in the area relates
to activity represented in the Boyn Hill gravels. This formation is
preserved on the south side of the Lower Thames as an intermittent
east–west trending band from Dartford Heath through Dartford,
Stone, Greenhithe and Swanscombe to Northfleet. The deposits in the
formation consist of a sequence of predominantly fluviatile loam,
sand and gravel units laid down by the ancient Thames in the
post-Anglian interglacial period between c. 430,000 and 350,000
years BP (Before Present), corresponding with late Oxygen Isotope
Stage 12 to early OI Stage 10 of the global framework (Bridgland
1994). These are overlain in places by younger colluvial and
solifluction deposits, cutting down through them and filling
northward-trending dry valleys and minor tributaries, which
sometimes also contain their own systems of post-Boyn Hill/Orsett
Heath fluvial deposits.
4.1.2 The Boyn Hill/Orsett Heath formation is rich in
significant Palaeolithic archaeological remains, with quarrying
activity at numerous locations having produced artefacts, faunal
remains and other biological evidence relating to climate and
environment (Wymer 1968; Wessex Archaeology 1993). There are
several major sites in the immediate vicinity of St Mary’s Church,
the most important of which are Barnfield Pit, the Globe Pit, and
Dierden's Yard.
4.1.3 Barnfield Pit is 1.5m east of the site and is recognised
as a site of international archaeological significance, as well as
being a designated SSSI on Quaternary geological grounds. It was
one of the first Palaeolithic sites in Britain to be excavated in a
controlled manner (Smith & Dewey 1913), and has been regularly
reinvestigated subsequently (Swanscombe Committee 1938; Ovey 1964;
Conway et al. 1996). The deposits at the site contained lithic and
faunal remains in stratified fluvial sand and gravel units,
accompanied by biological palaeo-environmental evidence.
Undisturbed horizons preserving intact evidence of Lower
Palaeolithic activity were present in one of the lower deposits —
the Lower Loam. One horizon within the middle phase of the sequence
— the Upper Middle Gravel — has also produced an early human fossil
skull (the Swanscombe Skull) making it one of only two sites in
England with Lower or Middle Palaeolithic hominid skeletal
evidence.
4.1.4 Much of the other finds evidence is flint tools and
implements, for example an assemblage 250m southeast of the
development site (Kent HER reference number TQ 57 SE 16). Nineteen
flint flakes from fluvial gravels were found 490m. to the
south-west (TQ 57 SE 160); a Palaeolithic flint assemblage has been
found 530 m. to the north-east (TQ 57 SE 176); a single
Palaeolithic flake has been found 560m. to the south-east (TQ 57 SE
170); and a Palaeolithic implement has been recovered some 540m. to
the north-west of the development site (TQ 57 SE 71).
4.1.5 Features of later prehistoric date were found during
evaluation work some 390m to the south-west (TQ 57 SE 158). Some
380m to the east a dene-hole was excavated in the 19th century
which was found to contain three skeletons believed to be of Iron
Age date. The dene-hole was later used for the dumping of Roman
refuse (TQ 57 SE 20).
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4.2 The Roman Period (AD 43 – AD 410)
4.2.1 The nearest Roman settlement to the site was recorded at
Ingress Abbey, some 400m to the northeast, where a twin-ditched
enclosure was excavated (Capon 2009). Roman building materials
indicated the presence of masonry structures on the site. Also off
London Road, a Romano-British cremation has been recorded (TQ 57 SE
56), and a burial urn has been found in the Abbey Site.
4.2.2 A Romano-British cemetery has been recorded some 325m to
the south-west (TQ 57 SE 6) and features and deposits of
Romano-British date were recorded ahead of development at a site
some 400m to the south-west.
4.2.3 Other evidence of Roman settlement in the vicinity is that
recorded during excavations in Stone Castle Quarry, 1 mile to the
southeast of Stone, in 1967 (Detsicas 1967). The site lay only 300
yards to the north of Watling Street, the main Roman road between
London and Canterbury, on the Upper Chalk.
4.3 The Early Medieval (AD 410 – AD 1066), Medieval (AD 1066 –
AD 1538) and Post-Medieval Periods (AD 1538-present)
4.3.1 St Mary’s Church lies 1km distant from the riverside
settlement, and is a similar distance from Swanscombe. Greenhithe
is taken from the Saxon word 'hythe' or 'landing-place', originally
‘grene’, as in the first record of 1264. Much of the medieval and
ensuing industry of the area was related to the cutting of chalk
for building stone for London. This was still being carried out in
the 18th century, with the landscape park at Ingress Abbey lying
within a large quarry into the natural chalk bedrock.
4.3.2 The site is first depicted in detail in 1799, on Ordnance
Survey mapping. This shows the area of Knockholt to the east, Stone
Castle to the west, and the name W Hayes in the approximate
location of the church. The 1866 Ordnance Survey map shows the
church, with some housing around it, but this is at 1:10,500, and
little detail is apparent. The 1880 OS map shows houses built up
along Bean road, but not much immediately next to the church except
for the Railway Hotel. By 1938, the vicarage has been built, whilst
the current church hall is not shown until 1973.
4.3.3 The church at Greenhithe is Grade II listed. It is
dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin, designed by Vulliamy, and was
opened on 26 August 1856. It contains some original features,
particularly its windows, which owe much to the Arts and Crafts
Movement.
5 5 Aims of the Investigation 5.1 The aims of the evaluation are
defined as being:
• To establish the presence/absence of archaeological remains
within the site. • To determine the extent, condition, nature,
character, quality and date of any archaeological
remains encountered. • To record and sample excavate any
archaeological remains encountered. • To assess the ecofactual and
environmental potential of any archaeological features and
deposits. • To determine the extent of previous truncations of
the archaeological deposits. • To enable the archaeology advisor to
Dartford Borough Council to make an informed decision
on the status of the condition, and any possible requirement for
further work in order to satisfy that condition.
• To make available to interested parties the results of the
investigation.
5.2 The specific aims of the evaluation are defined as
being:
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• To determine the exact character of the geological deposits on
site • To determine the presence of any Palaeolithic evidence on
site • To determine the prehistoric evidence on site. • Determine
the presence of any Romano-British activity on site. • To identify
any evidence that may relate to any medieval or early post-medieval
activities on
site pre-dating the construction of the church activities on
site.
5.3 The final aim is to make public the results of the
investigation, subject to any confidentiality restrictions.
6 Scope of Works and Strategy 6.1 The current programme of
archaeological works is for an archaeological evaluation comprising
five
10m long x 1.8m wide trenches.
6.2 The excavation, recording and reporting will conform with
current best archaeological practice and local and national
standards and guidelines:
• English Heritage – Archaeological Assessment and Evaluation
Reports (Guidelines) (EH 1992).
• English Heritage – Archaeological Guidance Paper 3: Standards
and Practices in Archaeological Fieldwork (EH 1998a).
• English Heritage – Environmental Archaeology: A guide to the
theory and practice of methods, from sampling and recovery to
post-excavation (EH 2011).
• Institute for Archaeologists – Standard and Guidance for
Archaeological Field Evaluations (IfA 2009).
• Institute for Archaeologists – Code of Conduct (IfA 2010). •
Museum of London – Archaeological Site Manual (MoLAS 1994) • RESCUE
& ICON – First Aid for Finds (RESCUE & ICON 2001). • United
Kingdom Institute for Conservation – Conservation Guidelines No.2
(UKIC 1983). • United Kingdom Institute for Conservation – Guidance
for Archaeological Conservation
Practice (UKIC 1990).
6.3 Insurances, copyright and confidentiality and standards are
defined in Appendix A.
6.4 A site code (MAG 13) has been assigned to the project and
will be used as the site identifier for all records produced.
6.5 The trial trench evaluation will be undertaken by a Project
Officer and Assistant Archaeologist under the overall management of
Paul Mason, Project Manager. Further staff will be made available
as required.
6.6 The works will be monitored by Wendy Rogers, Archaeological
Advisor to Dartford Borough Council. The archaeological advisor
will be facilitated full access to the site at all times in order
to monitor progress on site on behalf of the local planning
authority.
7 Methodology 7.1 The machining will be undertaken by a
mechanical excavator under constant archaeological
direction and will be undertaken, where practicable, with a flat
bladed bucket (toothless).
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7.2 The five evaluation trenches will be excavated to allow a
working length of 10m and width of 1.8m (Figure 2). If any trench
needs to be excavated below 1.2m for its entire length, the trench
will be stepped out to allow the full working length to be
investigated.
7.3 Undifferentiated topsoil or overburden of recent origin will
be removed in successive level spits down to the first significant
archaeological horizon, or the natural gravel geology, whichever is
encountered first. The excavated material will be kept separate
from other deposits and examined for archaeological materials.
7.4 Current service plans will be consulted if available and the
entire site will be visually inspected prior to the commencement of
any machine excavation, including the examination of any available
exposures (e.g. recently cut ditches and geotechnical test pits).
The area will be CAT scanned before excavation.
7.5 Excavated material will be examined in order to retrieve
artefacts to assist in the analysis of their spatial
distribution.
7.6 On completion of machine excavation to the gravel horizon
where present, all faces of the trench that require examination or
recording will be cleaned using appropriate hand tools. All
investigation of archaeological horizons will be by hand, with
cleaning, inspection, and recording both in plan and section.
7.7 The integrity of any archaeological features or deposits,
which might better be excavated in conditions pertaining to full
excavation, or might warrant preservation in situ, will not be
compromised.
7.8 Linear features will be excavated to achieve a minimum of a
10% sample along their length, with a minimum of a section of 1m
width. The termini of any linear features will be 100% excavated.
Pits will be 50% excavated as a minimum. Significant solid or
bonded structural remains, building slots or postholes will be
preserved intact, even if fills are sampled. Isolated post holes
and complex features such as hearths will be 100% excavated.
7.9 Records will be produced using either pro-forma context or
trench record sheets and by the single context planning method and
will be compatible with those published by the Museum of London
(MoLAS 1994).
7.10 A record of the full sequence of all archaeological
deposits as revealed in the evaluation will be made. Plans and
sections of features will be drawn at an appropriate scale of 1:10
or 1:20, with sections drawn at 1:10.
7.11 In consultation with the archaeological advisor, AOC will
recover environmental samples from suitable deposits that might
help to characterise local environmental development or inform on
the characterisation of land-use for the local area.
7.12 Bulk samples, 20L for wet and 40L for dry contexts of will
be taken from appropriate contexts for the recovery and assessment
of environmental data. Provision will be made for column and other
appropriate samples to be taken. Sampling methods will follow
English Heritage guidelines (EH 2011).
7.13 Any finds of human remains will be left in situ, covered
and protected. The Ministry of Justice and the local constabulary
will be informed. If removal is essential advice on how best to
proceed will be sought from the Ministry of Justice and the local
authority environmental health officer.
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7.14 Any finds covered by the provisions of the Treasure Act
(1996, amended 2003) and Treasure (Designation) Order 2002,
including gold and silver, will be moved to a safe place and
reported to the coroner's office according to the procedures
determined by the Act. They will also be reported to the local
finds liaison officer from the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Where
removal cannot be effected on the same working day as the
discovery, suitable security measures will be taken to protect the
artefacts from theft or damage.
7.15 All identified finds and artefacts will be collected and
retained. Certain classes of material, i.e. post-medieval pottery
and building material may be discarded after recording if a
representative sample is kept. No finds will be discarded without
the prior approval of the Archaeological Planning
Archaeologist.
7.16 Finds will be scanned to assess the date range of the
assemblage with particular reference to pottery. In addition the
artefacts will be used to characterise the site, and to establish
the potential for all categories of finds should further
archaeological work be necessary.
7.17 All finds and samples will be treated in a proper manner
and to standards agreed in advance with the Museum of London. Finds
will be exposed, lifted, cleaned, conserved, marked, bagged and
boxed in accordance with the guidelines set out in United Kingdom
Institute for Conservation's Conservation Guidelines No. 2 (UKIC
1983).
7.18 Provision for onsite conservation and finds treatment, in
addition to any scientific dating of materials uncovered, will be
undertaken where appropriate.
7.19 Upon completion of the project the landowner and the
relevant museum will be contacted regarding the preparation,
ownership and deposition of the archive and finds.
Palaeolithic Investigation
7.20 At the end of each trial trench, unless it can be
demonstrated that topsoil lies immediately on top of pre-Quaternary
geology, a trial pit about 2m wide and about 2.5m long will be
excavated by machine, using a wide, flat ditching bucket, to
investigate the presence/absence of artefacts and environmental
indicators of Palaeolithic date. The trial pits will be located at
one end of the existing trial trenches unless important later
archaeological remains are present in which case an alternative
location will be agreed. Post-Palaeolithic archaeological deposits
will not be removed by machine unless approved by the County
Archaeologist.
7.21 Each trial pit will be excavated to the top of
pre-Quaternary geology or to a safe working depth (expected to be
about 4m below present ground surface), whichever is higher. If the
Archaeological Contractor considers that there is a need to
excavate the trial pits to a greater depth this will be discussed
and agreed with the County Archaeologist. The work will be directed
by a specialist in Palaeolithic archaeology who will also supervise
the machine excavation and sieving process (see 7.18 below), log
the sedimentary sequences and liaise with the geological specialist
regarding the taking of samples. It is not intended that the pits
are entered. If significant remains are found which are thought to
require detailed recording, arrangements will be made with the
County Archaeologist for stepping or shoring of the pit to allow
safe inspection.
7.22 Within each trial pit, sediment will be removed by machine
in spits up to 250mm thick and following the interfaces between
sedimentary units wherever possible. Each spit and sedimentary unit
will be numbered separately. Samples (100 litres) from each
Pleistocene sedimentary unit will be shaken through a 10mm mesh to
retrieve artefacts and coarse ecofacts. If such remains are
encountered the 'spoil' from the 10mm sieve will be shaken through
a 4mm mesh. Where sedimentary units are divided into spits, samples
will be sieved from each spit if appropriate.
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7.23 A record of the estimated proportion of each sedimentary
unit sieved will be made. Spoil from each spit will be kept
separately to allow correlation of artefacts to spits. Any intact
activity areas such as knapping floors, if detectable, will not be
excavated or disturbed at this stage. If such remains are
encountered the County Archaeologist will be informed immediately
and arrangements may need to be made for the pit to be shored or
stepped and for hand cleaning and detailed recording undertaken.
Where deposits with potential for environmental and/or scientific
analysis are noted, bulk samples will be taken, from the spoil or
the section if safe to do so) for subsequent laboratory analysis.
Samples shall be taken for potential analysis of clast content,
particle size, micromorphology, pollen, mollusc, ostracod,
micro-mammalian and other micro-faunal remains, and for dating
purposes, as appropriate. Monolith samples will be taken as
appropriate and if safe.
7.24 The sedimentary sequence in each pit will be logged from
the top of the pit or the adjacent trial trench; the pit or trial
trench will not be entered unless it is safe to do so. At least one
full and representative section of each pit will be drawn at a
scale of 1:10. If necessary more than one face will be drawn. The
Palaeolithic specialist and a geological specialist will liaise
regarding the recording of the sections; separate logs may be made
in the field but an integrated record is required for the report.
It is not intended at this stage that detailed sedimentological
analysis is undertaken but where it is safe to do so selected
sections will be carefully cleaned and orientations of sedimentary
structures if present measured. If appropriate, further more
detailed sedimentological recording will be arranged at a later
date.
8 Report and Archive Preparation 8.1 A report will be completed
within six weeks of the conclusion of the fieldwork, subject to
the
availability of specialist reports. An interim statement of
results can be prepared within a week, if required.
8.2 The report will include as a minimum:
• A location plan of the site.
• The date of the record, the names of the recorders and the
location of the archive.
• A table of contents and a list of figures and plates.
• Acknowledgements to all contributors to the fieldwork,
reporting and analysis. Also, a note of any copyrights for
reproduced material.
• A location plan of the trenches.
• Plans and sections of features and/or extent of archaeology
located. These will be at an appropriate scale.
• A summary statement of the results.
• A table summarising per trench the deposits, features, classes
and numbers of artefacts encountered and spot dating of significant
finds.
8.3 A list of specialist staff that may be used for analysis of
samples and artefacts is given in Appendix B.
8.4 A digital copy of the report in pdf format will be submitted
to the Archaeological Officer for approval before formal submission
to Kent Historic Environment Record.
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8.5 Copies of the evaluation report will be issued to Dartford
Council, the Archaeological Officer, the HER Manager, and the local
studies Library on the understanding that it will become a public
document after an appropriate period of time.
8.6 A Kent Archaeological Fieldwork Notification Form has been
completed, and will be sent to KCC prior to the commencement of
fieldwork.
8.7 An OASIS form has been initiated (Appendix D). This will be
completed and an electronic copy of the evaluation report deposited
with the Archaeological Data Service (ADS). In addition, a summary
of the findings will be submitted to the fieldwork roundup in the
local journal.
Archive Preparation
8.8 The site archive will comprise all artefacts, environmental
samples and written and drawn records. It is to be consolidated
after completion of the whole project, with records and finds
collated and ordered as a permanent record. Archaeological finds
rarely have any monetary value but they are an important source of
information for future research, included in museum exhibits and
teaching collections. English Heritage (EH 1991), the Institute of
Archaeologists (IfA 2008) and the Society of Museum Archaeologists
(SMA 1993) recommend that finds are publicly accessible and that
landowners donate archaeological finds to a local museum.
8.9 On completion of the project AOC will discuss arrangements
for the archive to be deposited with the local museum with the
developer/landowner. Following completion of each stage or the full
extent of the fieldwork (as appropriate) the site archive will be
prepared in the format agreed with the museum and in accordance
with national (UKIC 1990) and local guidelines. The excavation
archive will be security copied (microfilmed) and a copy deposited
with the National Archaeological Record (NAR).
8.10 In the case where finds are retained, landowner consent
will be required to allow transfer of the finds to the museum. An
Archaeological Archive Consent Form (Appendix D) will be drawn up
for signing by the landowner. The complete finds inventory and
further finds information can be provided to the landowner, on
request.
8.11 The site archive will be deposited with the local recipient
museum when they reopen for deposition. Until this time the archive
will be retained at AOC premises.
9 Health and Safety 9.1 Health and Safety will take priority
over all other requirements. A conditional aspect of all
archaeological work is both safe access to the area of work and
a safe working environment.
9.2 The project will be carried out in accordance with safe
working practices and under the defined Health and Safety Policy.
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 (CDM) may
apply to the archaeological work depending on whether contractors
other than the archaeological team are present on the site.
9.3 A separate Risk Assessment/Method Statement (RAMS) will be
prepared prior to the commencement of the fieldwork.
9.4 Staff present on site will be required to wear the
appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which will be
issued as necessary. Facilities will be made available on site for
washing.
9.5 Where AOC is not the main contractor on a site the main
contractor’s Risk Assessment will have primacy over the AOC
document given that:
• The main contractors’ risk assessment is aware of, and takes
account of, AOC’s working practices – i.e. it does not compromise
normal and safe archaeological procedure as set out in our Written
Scheme of Investigation and Risk Assessment;
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• AOC was notified of the full suite of hazards present prior to
arriving on site; • There is a proper induction and monitoring
process in place and AOC staff have been
through this process; • There is no significant conflict between
AOC H & S procedures and those proposed by the
main contractor; • AOC are made aware of new threats or hazards
as they arise during the course of our on-
site involvement.
10 General 10.1 The methodologies of the WSI will be met in full
where reasonably practicable.
10.2 Any significant variations to the proposed methodology will
be discussed and agreed with the archaeology advisor in advance of
implementation.
10.3 The scope of fieldwork is aimed at meeting the aims of the
project in a cost effective manner. AOC Archaeology attempts to
foresee all possible site specific problems and make allowances for
these. However there may on occasion be unusual circumstances,
which have not been included in the programme and costing. These
can include:
• unavoidable delays due to extreme bad weather, vandalism etc.;
• extensions to feature excavation sample sizes requested by the
local authority's
archaeological advisor; • complex structures or objects,
including those in waterlogged conditions, requiring specialist
removal.
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11 Bibliography Bridgland, D.R, (1994): Quaternary of the
Thames. Geological Review Series 7.
British Geological Survey, (2012). Geoindex (on-line)
Capon, L. (2009) ‘Early Roman Features, Possibly defensive, and
the modern development of the Parkland Landscape at Ingress Abbey,
Greenhithe.’ Archæologia Cantiana volume CXXIX, 2009
Conway, B.W., McNabb, J. & Ashton, N., (ed's). 1996.
Excavations at Barnfield Pit, Swanscombe, 1968–72. British Museum
Occasional Paper 94. British Museum Press, London.
Department for Communities and Local Government (2012). National
Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
Detsicas, A.P, (1967): An Iron Age and Roman site at Stone
Castle Quarry, Greenhithe. Archaeologia Cantiana Vol. 81:
136-190.
English Heritage (1991). Management of Archaeological
Projects.
English Heritage (1992). Archaeological Assessment and
Evaluation Reports (Guidelines)
English Heritage (1998a). Archaeological Guidance Paper 2:
Standards and Practices for Written Schemes of Investigation.
English Heritage London Region.
English Heritage (1998b). Archaeological Guidance Paper 3:
Standards and Practices in Archaeological Fieldwork. (English
Heritage London Region).
English Heritage (1998c). Archaeological Guidance Paper 4:
Standards and Practices in Archaeological Reports. (English
Heritage London Region).
English Heritage (2011). Environmental Archaeology: A guide to
the theory and practice of methods, from sampling and recovery to
post-excavation
Institute for Archaeologists (2008). Standard and Guidance for
the Collection, Documentation, Conservation and Research of
Archaeological Materials.
Institute for Archaeologists (2009). Standard and Guidance for
Archaeological Field Evaluations
Institute for Archaeologists (2010). Code of Conduct.
Kent County Council (2013). Specification for an archaeological
evaluation at St Mary’s Church, London Road, Greenhithe, Dartford,
Kent.
Museum of London (1994). Archaeological Site Manual (3rd
ed).
Ovey, C.D., (ed.). 1964. The Swanscombe Skull: a Survey of
Research on a Pleistocene Site. Occasional Paper No.20. Royal
Anthropological Institute, London.
RESCUE & ICON (2001). First Aid For Finds. (3rd ed).
Smith, R.A. & Dewey, H. 1913. Stratification at Swanscombe:
report on excavations made on behalf of the British Museum and H.M.
Geological Survey. Archaeologia 64: 177–204.
Society of Museum Archaeologists (1993). Selection, Retention
and Dispersal of Archaeological Collections.
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SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION FOR AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION
© AOC Archaeology 2013 | PAGE 11 | www.aocarchaeology.com
Swanscombe Committee. 1938. Report on the Swanscombe skull:
prepared by the Swanscombe Committee of the Royal Anthropological
Institute. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 68:
17–98.
United Kingdom Institute for Conservation (1983). Conservation
Guidelines No 2.
United Kingdom Institute for Conservation (1990). Guidance for
Archaeological Conservation Practice.
Wessex Archaeology. 1993. Southern Rivers Palaeolithic Project
Report 2: Region 4 (South of the Thames) and Region 1 (Southwest
England). Unpublished report prepared by Wessex Archaeology,
Salisbury.
Wymer, J.J. 1968. Lower Palaeolithic archaeology in Britain as
represented by the Thames Valley. John Baker, London.
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558000.000000
558000.000000
559000.000000
559000.000000
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0000
0
1740
00.0
0000
0
1750
00.0
0000
0
1750
00.0
0000
0
Based on data provided by the Ordnance Surveywith the permission
of the Controller of
Her Majesty's Stationery Office.© Crown Copyright. License No.
AL 1000 16114
50 0.25 0.50.125
km
Site Location
1Figure
© AOC ARCHAEOLOGY GROUP - 2013
ST. MARY’S CHURCH, LONDON ROAD, GREENHITHE, DARTFORD, KENTA
WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION FOR AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL
EVALUATION
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© AOC ARCHAEOLOGY GROUP - 2013
ST. MARY’S CHURCH, LONDON ROAD, GREENHITHE, DARTFORD, KENTA
WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION FOR AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL
EVALUATION
52Trench Location Plan
Figure
Site Outline Trench Location
Scale: 1:1000 on A4
Taken from the Specifications for Work from Kent County
Council
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Appendices
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Appendix A – General Insurances
1. AOC holds Employers Liability Insurance, Public Liability
Insurance and Professional Indemnity Insurance. Details can be
supplied on request.
2. AOC will not be liable to indemnify the client against any
compensation or damages for or with respect to:
• damage to crops being on the Area or Areas of Work (save in so
far as possession has not been given to the Archaeological
Contractor)
• the use or occupation of land (which has been provided by the
Client) by the Project or for the purposes of completing the
Project (including consequent loss of crops) or interference
whether temporary or permanent with any right of way light air or
other easement or quasi easement which are the unavoidable result
of the Project in accordance with the Agreement
• any other damage which is the unavoidable result of the
Project in accordance with the Agreement
• injuries or damage to persons or property resulting from any
act or neglect or breach of statutory duty done or committed by the
client or his agents servants or their contractors (not being
employed by AOC Archaeology or for or in respect of any claims
demands proceedings damages costs charges and expenses in respect
thereof or in relation thereto
3. Where excavation has taken place evaluation trenches will be
backfilled with excavated material but will otherwise not be
reinstated unless other arrangements have previously been agreed.
Open area excavations normally will not be backfilled but left in a
secure manner unless otherwise agreed.
Copyright and Confidentiality
4. AOC Archaeology will retain full copyright of any
commissioned reports, tender documents or other project documents
under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 with all rights
reserved; excepting that it will provide an exclusive license to
the Client in all matters directly relating to the project as
described in the Written Scheme of Investigation.
5. AOC will assign copyright to the client upon written request
but retains the right to be identified as the author of all project
documentation and reports as defined in the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.
6. AOC will advise the Client of any such materials supplied in
the course of projects, which are not AOC's copyright.
7. AOC undertake to respect all requirements for confidentiality
about the Client's proposals provided that these are clearly
stated. In addition AOC further undertakes to keep confidential any
conclusions about the likely implications of such proposals for the
historic environment. It is expected that Clients respect AOC's and
the Institute of Field Archaeologists' general ethical obligations
not to suppress significant archaeological data for an unreasonable
period.
Standards
8. AOC conforms to the standards of professional conduct
outlined in the Institute of Field Archaeologists' Code of Conduct,
the IFA Code of Approved Practice for the Regulation of Contractual
Arrangements in Field Archaeology, the IFA Standards and Guidance
for Desk Based Assessments, Field Evaluations etc., and the British
Archaeologists and Developers Liaison Group Code of Practice.
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9. Where practicable AOC will liaise with local archaeological
bodies (both professional and amateur) in order that information
about particular sites is disseminated both ways (subject to client
confidentiality).
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Appendix B – Specialist Staff The following specialist staff may
be used on this project depending on the type of artefacts and soil
samples recovered during the course of the fieldwork.
Macroscopic plant remains Nick Branch QUEST
Soils and sediments analysis Nick Branch QUEST
Palaeoenvironmental archaeology Nick Branch QUEST
Palaeoarchaeology Fieldwork Cat Edwards AOC
Les Capon AOC
Human remains Rachel Ives AOC
Conservation Pieta Greaves AOC
Building material Sue Pringle ASE
Lithics Chris Butler Freelance
Mammal and bird bone Jennifer Thoms AOC
Prehistoric pottery Anna Doherty ASE
Roman pottery Anna Doherty ASE
Medieval and post-medieval pottery Luke Barber ASE
Metal Andy Heald AOC
Glass Elke Raemen ASE
Geoarchaeology Quaternary Scientific Reading University
AOC Palaeoarchaeology Fieldwork
Both Catherine Edwards and Les Capon are available for this
project. Both have experience in excavating and recognising
Palaeolithic remains in the conditions expected on this site. Both
were involved in Palaeolithic sampling at Ingress Abbey, during
fieldwork for the Crest Development, and during groundwork for the
western Fasttrack route into the site.
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Appendix C – Kent Archaeology Fieldwork Notification Form
Kent Archaeology Fieldwork Notification Form
KCC logo
(Section A and B to be filled in and sent either digitally or by
fax to KCC Heritage Conservation Group (01622 221636) in advance of
start of fieldwork. Section C to be completed and sent at end of
fieldwork. Section D to be filled in and sent with completed
report.)
SECTION A - PROJECT DETAILS
St Mary's Church, Greenhithe Site/Project Name:
NGR: TQ 5859 7647
Site Address: St Mary's Church, London Road, Greenhithe,
Dartford, Kent DA9 9ND Archaeological Contractor (inc name and
address of project contact): Paul Mason, AOC Archaeology, Unit 7,
St Margarets Business Centre, Moor Mead Road, Twickenham TW1
1JS
Commisioning Body/Client: St Mary Greenhithe Parochial Church
Council Development Proposals/Reason for Fieldwork: Planning
Reference: Car parking and site infrastructure improvements
DA/10/01465/FUL
SECTION B - COMMENCEMENT OF FIELDWORK
Type of Archaeological Fieldwork: Site Supervisor: Les Capon/
Cat Edwards
Evaluation Trenching Site Contact Details: 07808 730 227/ 07736
957 511 Specification for Works?: KCC
Local Museum Notified: Dartford Museum Site Code: MAG 13
Date: 14/02/2013
Local Arch Soc Notified: tbc
Date: tbc
START DATE: ANTICIPATED DURATION: weeks
I (archaeological contractor) confirm that all necessary
provision has been made for the resources to complete the
archaeological fieldwork, post-excavation analysis and reporting in
accordance with the agreed specification.
Name:
On behalf of:
Signed: Date:
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Appendix D – OASIS Form
OASIS ID: aocarcha1-143739
Project details
Project name St Mary's Church. London Road, Greenhithe
Short description of the project
An archaeological evaluation
Project dates Start: 04-03-2013
Previous/future work No / Not known
Any associated project reference codes
32358 - Contracting Unit No.
Any associated project reference codes
MAG 13 - Sitecode
Type of project Field evaluation
Site status Listed Building
Current Land use Other 4 - Churchyard
Methods & techniques ''Test Pits''
Development type Large/ medium scale extensions to existing
structures (e.g. church, school, hospitals, law courts, etc.)
Prompt Direction from Local Planning Authority - PPS
Position in the planning process
After full determination (eg. As a condition)
Project location
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Country England
Site location KENT DARTFORD SWANSCOMBE AND GREENHITHE St Mary's
Church
Postcode DA9 9ND
Study area 2340.00 Square metres
Site coordinates TQ 5859 7647 51 0 51 27 51 N 000 16 59 E
Point
Entered by les capon ([email protected])
Entered on 14 February 2013
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Appendix E – Archaeological Archive Consent Form
ARCHAEOLOGICAL ARCHIVE CONSENT FORM
SITE: [Site address] SITE CODE: [Site code]
AOC ARCHAEOLOGY REF: [Project number]
RECEIVING MUSEUM: [Local recipient museum]
I agree to the finds archive recovered from this site being
donated to
the specified museum.
SIGNED [Signature]
PRINT [Name]
Landowner/Agent LANDOWNER'S NAME: [Landowner name] LANDOWNER'S
ADDRESS: [Landowner address]
Please retain a copy of this form for your records
-
AOC Archaeology Group, Unit 7, St Margarets Business Centre,
Moor Mead Road, Twickenham TW1 1JS tel: 020 8843 7380 | fax: 020
8829 0549 | e-mail: [email protected]