Archaeological desk based assessment

Archaeological desk-based assessments are an assessment of the baseline archaeological record of a location. This record comes from various written, graphic, and electronic sources. The assessment must include study of

• the proposed development site itself and; 
• the surrounding area - typically a 1km radius around the site boundary.

They are required for a:

1. planning application within an Archaeological site
2. planning application within a Scheduled Monument site

As the first stage of any archaeological work, a thorough desk-based assessment can support any future intervention and mitigation. It can prevent later disruption and unexpected costs to development.

• reference to existing frameworks, primarily Chartered Institute for Architects - standards and guidance for historic environment desk-based assessments
• accurate plans showing the site location
• current land use
• historic land uses and landscape characterisation, including historic map regression
• the locations and nature of the following records in the North Somerset Historic Environment Record:
  • designated heritage assets - including scheduled monuments, listed buildings, registered parks and gardens
  • non-designated heritage assets - including buildings, buried archaeology, standing archaeology, etc.
  • archaeological interventions - including watching briefs, evaluations, excavations
  • archaeological surveys - including geophysical, topographic etc.
• geology, hydrology and hydrogeology, especially where the site may contain waterlogged deposits beneath alluvial or colluvial material
• consultation of aerial and Lidar images
• topographic development of the site from prehistory to the present day
• portable antiquities scheme records
• review of published and archival documentary evidence and previous interpretations of the history and archaeology of the site
• data from geotechnical investigations such as borehole records and test pits
• observations and photographic records of a site walkover

The evidence submitted needs to show: 

• the potential for survival of archaeology from different periods within the site
• the significance of known and potential archaeology within the site, in local, regional, national and international contexts
• assessment of any harm to existing archaeology, and impact on the significance of archaeology, or its setting, by the proposed development

• Chartered Institute for Archaeologists - Standards and Guidance
• North Somerset Historic Environment Record