DEVELOPMENT MITIGATION

A greater sense of responsibility and changes in legislation now see the cost of mitigating the impact of development on the traces of past human activity preserved in the archaeological record being shouldered by development companies. Informed archaeological input is vital to ensure that companies fulfill this obligation with mitigation of appropriate scale and quality.

As Director of an archaeological contractor (the Archaeological Practice at Newcastle University) from 1995 to 2002 I have considerable experience of providing archaeological input at all stages of the development process (Assessment, Evaluation and Mitigation), and of managing such input through to conclusion. Key projects undertaken were:

Evaluation of Pre-historic, Roman and Medieval sites undertaken for the UK Ministry of Defence at Otterburn, Northumberland.

Excavation of the Iron-Age hillfort at Harehaugh, Northumberland undertaken for the Northumberland National Park.

Assessment of research potential mitigation of major re-development in Chester

Conservation recording and excavation undertaken for the Northumberland National Park at Thirlwell Castle, Northumberland.

Survey and recording of prehistoric landscapes on the Messak Settafet, Libya undertaken for LASMO Grand Maghreb Ltd and directed in the field by myself and David Mattingly of Leicester University.