6.4 Archaeological Strategy

6.4 ARCHAEOLOGICAL STRATEGY This section should act as a recommended process for the approach to archaeological investigations within the Registered Park and Garden of Raby Estates. It provides a step-by-step process for dealing with the archaeological potential within the statutory planning process in order to manage and remove risk and safeguard locally and nationally significant heritage.

PRE-PLANNING PROCESS, RIBA STAGES 1–3 1.0 Identifying Potential: Desk Based Assessments and Non-Intrusive Surveys

1.1 An important first stage in this process is to gain an initial understanding of the potential across the site, as identified at a strategic level within the

Conservation Plan (2018). This will focus attention on key areas and provide initial development parameters for future proposals.

1.2 Commission an Archaeological Desk Based

Assessment (ADBA). The ADBA will identify the nature, extent and significance of the historic environment within the area identified for potential development.

As a minimum requirement the report will be written to the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) standard as laid down in their guidance ‘Standard and guidance for historic environment desk-based assessments’ (January 2017). The assessment will:

• Consider the likely survival of buried archaeological deposits within the site;

• Consider the significance and quality of existing and potential deposits;

• Include an analysis of landscape development and a chronology of known land-use;

• Include a map regression showing the study area’s development through time; and

• Note any current or potential damage to archaeology through current land use and suggest mitigation measures.

The ADBA is also likely to identify gaps in knowledge and areas for further research and survey, with suggested investigative methodologies to be incorporated at the next stage.

The document can both inform the early development of a project and will form part of the supporting documentation required as part of a planning submission. The ADBA should be produced by a CIfA accredited archaeologist.

1.3 The second stage of the early process of identifying potential would be to undertake any additional research, investigation or survey recommended by the ADBA. If required, historical research could be undertaken by research students as part of a focussed project brief, including a Masters or PhD thesis. Those compiling the research should be registered with the

Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC). 1.4 Given the known archaeological potential of

Raby Castle both in relation to the medieval castle and the lost medieval village of Raby, it is recommended that potential development is guided by the results of non-intrusive geophysical survey. This would aid identification of the potential presence or absence of below-ground archaeology, and those areas which may require invasive techniques of investigation to further clarify the results. Survey techniques might include resistivity or magnetometry, or groundpenetrating radar, dependant on the ground conditions, potential depths and ground surfacing.

Overall there is a greater need for geophysical survey to take place at a preliminary stage, based on the National Planning Policy Framework

Guidance, 2012, Chapter 12, Conserving and enhancing the historic environment, which allows local or national authorities to have a better understanding of the overall impact of any development on the historic environment.

1.5 The benefits of undertaking a geophysical survey for any project area:

• Reduction of risk, with a clearer picture of archaeological potential;

• Reduction of time spent on site, as geophysical survey is quick and effective; and a

• Reduction of expensive intrusive works, excavation can be targeted and reduced. 2.0 Intrusive Surveys

2.1 Depending on the results of the geo-technical investigations, a programme of evaluation and trenching may be required. A field evaluation is a defined programme of ground intrusive fieldwork which determines the presence or absence of archaeological features, structures, deposits or artefacts within a specified area. If such archaeological remains are present, field evaluation defines their character, extent, quality and state of preservation, and enables an assessment of their significance in a local, regional, national or international context as appropriate.

2.2 Field evaluations are often commissioned in advance of the submission of a planning application, as they provide invaluable insight to the potential for archaeological risk. These should always be agreed with the planning archaeologist in advance of intrusive work, so that the archaeological resource is not needlessly disturbed or damaged.

2.3 As the Registered Park and Garden at Raby Castle does not incorporate any Scheduled Monuments, there is no need to apply to the Secretary of State for Scheduled Monument Consent.

Awareness of the National Planning Policy is also required, as “any non-designed heritage assets of archaeological interest that are demonstrably of equivalent significance to scheduled monuments, should be considered subject to the policies for designated heritage assets.” NPPF, paragraph 139.

2.4 The Local Authority will request a Written

Scheme of Investigation (WSI) for any potential disturbance of below-ground archaeology. A WSI is normally prepared as a response to a project brief, and details how the archaeologists will fulfil the requirements set out in that brief. It should always be agreed by all relevant parties, as this is the tool against which performance, fitness for purpose, and standards, can be measured. All field evaluation will be carried out as a minimum requirement to the CIfA standard as laid down in their guidance ‘Standard and guidance for archaeological field evaluation’ (December 2014).

POST-PLANNING, RIBA STAGES 4 ONWARDS 3.0 Planning and Mitigation

3.1 The potential for any new development, its location and the design of foundations, will be based upon the results of the above investigations and feed into the planning process, aiding decision making by National and Local Authorities. The

ADBA, geophysical survey and initial report, following any intrusive surveys, should form part of the planning application. Their completion prior to planning reduces risk of unexpected finds at a late stage in construction.

3.2 Planning Permission may be granted with or without archaeological conditions attached, depending on the extent of earlier research and investigations and their results. The process of mitigation is an iterative process taking place ahead of any construction and all Conditions must be discharged prior to the commencement of any works. 3.3 A requirement for archaeological excavation may still form part of planning conditions if potential is high. An archaeological excavation is a programme of controlled, intrusive fieldwork with defined objectives which investigates, records and interprets archaeological deposits, features and structures within a specified site. As a minimum requirement the work will be carried out to the CIfA standard as laid down in their guidance ‘Standard and guidance for archaeological excavation’ (December 2014) following the development of a project design as agree in a

Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI).

3.4 The potential for community archaeology, volunteering and to help the local community understand more about their past is something that should be considered as part of any programme of excavations or surveys.

3.5 It should be noted that the most sustainable approach to archaeology is to retain it undisturbed, as future technology improves, and we will have a greater ability to understand, rather than destroy it. Avoiding areas of archaeological potential is beneficial and would have a lower heritage impact on significance.

4.0 Publication and Dissemination

4.1 Archaeological excavation is often termed

‘preservation by record’ (as the archaeology is effectively destroyed through investigation) and is the final stage of mitigation. The records made, and objects gathered during fieldwork, are studied and the results of that study are placed in an appropriate archive or disseminated more widely, depending on the project design. Findings and reports could be submitted to the online system

OASIS and the local Historic Environment Record.