Monitoring in practice
Introduction
To ensure that any controlled archaeological work, such as that required by the planning process, is being carried out in accordance with the agreed project design, monitoring of fieldwork and post-fieldwork analysis will be required. Controlled work includes work by statutory undertakers, through agri-environment schemes, work done under ecclesiastical exemption or by the Ministry of Defence as well as work that has come through the planning process. In the following paragraphs the reference is to the planning process but it applies to all controlled archaeological work.
Background
Increasingly it is becoming necessary for all stages of the archaeological project to be monitored as it takes place. The aim is to ensure that the work is being carried out in accordance with the specification and in a way that will satisfy the requirements of the planning authority. It will also prove mutually beneficial for there to be an ongoing dialogue between the planning archaeologist and the contractors in the field. The final monitoring points will be to ensure that an appropriate report and archive have been deposited. Until this has been achieved, the developer will not be considered to have fulfilled the requirements of the planning permission.
General principles
Monitoring should be arranged to satisfy the CIfA standards. The archaeological monitors, usually the planning archaeologists, are not liable in any way for the failings of the contractor and such monitoring is not intended to take the place of proper self-regulation. The importance of self-regulation cannot be overstated. It is the contractor's responsibility to his client to ensure the planning requirements imposed upon the developer are met, in accordance with the brief and specification.
Monitoring principles
The aims of the monitoring should be to ensure that:
- all critical aspects of the programme of archaeological works are undertaken to the satisfaction of the local planning authority
- all aspects of the work are undertaken in accordance with the agreed specification
- variations to the specification shall be agreed with the planning archaeologist in writing prior to them being carried out
It will be necessary to make arrangements for the monitoring prior to work commencing. In order for the planning archaeologist to timetable monitoring into each archaeological project they will require at least ten working days’ notice prior to the commencement of the work. In the discussions between planning archaeologist and contractor the following points will be relevant:
- nominating representatives of the planning authority to carry out the monitoring
- arranging access to the site for specialists appointed both by the planning authority and the contractor
- establishing smooth lines of communication between the planning archaeologist, the contractor, consultant and developer, as appropriate
- creating a project timetable with monitoring visits accounted for
Aspects to be monitored
Some points are of particular relevance when monitoring an archaeological project and these are outlined here.
The monitor will wish to confirm that excavation trenches and other interventions are located according to the agreed project design.
The monitor will need to be satisfied that the first archaeologically significant horizon has been correctly identified and no information has been lost by inappropriate use of a mechanical excavator.
The monitor will wish to assure him/herself that the project design is being followed in an appropriate way.
As the planning archaeologist with responsibility for advising on preservation in-situ, the monitor must be involved in any matters relating to on-site decisions regarding the conservation of remains.
At the end of the fieldwork phase the monitor will wish to be assured that:
- the project design has been adhered to or altered only with his/her agreement
- satisfactory arrangements have been made for any remains to be preserved in-situ
- arrangements are in hand for backfilling the trenches and for returning the site to a condition acceptable to the planning authority and the developer
During the carrying out of a given project the monitor may make an unannounced site visit. By doing this he or she will aim to ensure that:
- work is proceeding in accordance with the agreed project design
- the production of the necessary site archive is taking place in a satisfactory manner
The monitor’s task will not be complete until a copy of an appropriate report has been approved and deposited with the HER and an acceptable archive has been deposited in the appropriate archiving facility.
Reporting
There will be three aspects to reporting the monitoring of fieldwork.
The monitor will make a verbal report on-site during his/her visit and amendments to the agreed project design may be made (subject to the developer's approval).
The monitor may produce a written report, which will be circulated to all relevant parties.
Sometimes a planning condition may be breached in a way that requires enforcement action. In such cases the monitor will notify the local planning authority pending enforcement action.