25th February 2008, 02:19 PM
Many thanks for these responses so far.
I have discussed the sites with which I am dealing with the appropriate EH Regional Science Advisors, both at specific project meetings and also at one of the day schools last year (and I agree with teamonster that this was very useful).
With regard to the particular example site that I mentioned, waterlogging is maintained by high levels of groundwater, even in summer. This would not be affected by the piling. We are currently installing monitoring equipment to assess the baseline chemistry etc in the groundwater. There are few previous impacts from development and no chance of pile reuse (although I accept the concept of configuring the new pile designs so that these could be reused in the future). All non-piling parts of the new development, and the pile-caps, can be contained within the modern made ground above the significant archaeology.
HB - I take your point about obstructions. I remeber one of the case studies in the EH document referred to a site where the piling had been designed to achieve a less than 5% impact, but the need to probe and then move piles around resulted in a much greater area of loss.
Peter - I am sorry if you find it a 'bit off' that I am asking these questions on BAJR. I have considerable experience in dealing with major developments on sensitive archaeological sites, and in the procuring of piling on such sites, but would never think be so smug as to think that I can't learn from the opinions, experiences and advice of my peers. I always thought that was one of the great bonuses of a forum like this one.
Beamo
I have discussed the sites with which I am dealing with the appropriate EH Regional Science Advisors, both at specific project meetings and also at one of the day schools last year (and I agree with teamonster that this was very useful).
With regard to the particular example site that I mentioned, waterlogging is maintained by high levels of groundwater, even in summer. This would not be affected by the piling. We are currently installing monitoring equipment to assess the baseline chemistry etc in the groundwater. There are few previous impacts from development and no chance of pile reuse (although I accept the concept of configuring the new pile designs so that these could be reused in the future). All non-piling parts of the new development, and the pile-caps, can be contained within the modern made ground above the significant archaeology.
HB - I take your point about obstructions. I remeber one of the case studies in the EH document referred to a site where the piling had been designed to achieve a less than 5% impact, but the need to probe and then move piles around resulted in a much greater area of loss.
Peter - I am sorry if you find it a 'bit off' that I am asking these questions on BAJR. I have considerable experience in dealing with major developments on sensitive archaeological sites, and in the procuring of piling on such sites, but would never think be so smug as to think that I can't learn from the opinions, experiences and advice of my peers. I always thought that was one of the great bonuses of a forum like this one.
Beamo