Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History
EXCAVATION POLICY
One way to expand our knowledge of the archaeology and history of the county is for members to undertake properly organised excavations on suitable sites.
The Council of SIAH reminds those proposing to conduct excavations that these inevitably involve expenditure and as a destructive process require justification.
Excavations conducted under the auspices of SIAH must be approved in advance by the Council of SIAH and must be carried out at all times in accordance with the requirements set out below. Any project that fails to do this will not be considered for grant aid by the Institute and will not be covered by the Institute’s insurance. The Institute’s name may only be associated with approved excavations.
The Director of the proposed excavation must submit to Council a proposal giving details of the purpose and the archaeological justification for the project. This must include:
1. A description of the site and what is already known about its history and archaeology, the scope of the excavation and the anticipated outcomes. The results of any geophysical surveys, field walking etc. already carried out.
2. Written consent of the landowner and any other consents required (e.g. scheduled monument consent if appropriate).
3. Estimates of the cost of the work including backfilling of the trenches, post-excavation work on the finds and appropriate publication. Details of funding already obtained and of any plans to obtain additional funding (this might include application to the Grants Committee of SIAH).
4. Estimates of the total amount of time to be spent by persons working on the excavation to enable the Treasurer to calculate the likely cost of insurance: all those working on the excavation, including volunteers, must be covered by insurance and this can be arranged on request through the Institute’s insurers. Include the anticipated duration of the project if it is likely to last longer than one year.
5. How the Institute, either directly or through the Field Group, will be involved in the project.
6. Details of the anticipated post-excavation work and how this will be organised. This will include in which museum (or other appropriate place) finds will be deposited.
7. Proposals for publishing the results, which might be in the Institute’s Proceedings if appropriate and subject to the approval of the Editor. Directors will be expected to provide brief summaries for inclusion in “Archaeology in 20...” published in Proceedings.
8. The Institute is very unlikely to support the excavation of possible or definite cemeteries.
The Director will undertake to conduct the excavation in accordance with the following requirements:
1. All work will comply with the terms of the Institute’s insurance. Our insurance does not allow us to dig below 2 metres, nor to work underwater without the prior agreement of the insurers. However in parts of Suffolk soil conditions make it unsafe to dig below one metre without providing shoring or taking other measures to minimise risk. So while two metres is an absolute maximum, careful consideration should be given to safety issues before digging below one metre. It is against the law to excavate trenches below 1.2m without adequate shoring. Hard hats must be worn whenever there is machinery on site or digging below the level of soil which could fall into a trench.
2. Directors should consider whether risks on the site merit requiring that diggers wear steel toe-capped safety boots. If in doubt they should be worn.
3. All those working on the site will be given appropriate instructions and training about safe working practices and will be required to protect their own safety and that of others. Inexperienced volunteers will be properly supervised at all times.
4. Appropriate measures will be taken to ensure the safety of the public and of visitors to the site: this might include secure fencing and prominent warning signs.
5. No work will take place unless the Excavation Director or their nominated deputy is present.
6. All those working on the site will record their time of arrival and departure on every occasion in a book kept by the Director. This book will contain a list of all volunteers with their full postal address with, as appropriate, telephone number, email address and vehicle registration number.
7. The Director will ensure trenches are maintained in a safe condition at all times. A clear space of at least a metre will be maintained on all edges of the trenches. This must be kept clear of spoil, and of tools that are not actually being used and of personal belongings. Spoil heaps will be kept well away from the edges of trenches.
8. Full records will be kept as the excavation proceeds. This will include at least the precise location of every trench with reference to the Ordnance Survey grid, plans and sections of all significant features, the location of all significant finds, a written log of the progress of the excavation, photographic records, details of all samples taken for environmental investigation. All finds will be labelled and securely stored. The Director will ensure that all finds are stored in a suitable manner and will monitor their condition regularly.
9. Suitable arrangements must be made for the creation and preservation of an appropriate “site archive”.
10. The Director will be responsible for reporting all qualifying finds under the Treasure Act 1996 (all those involved in the excavation must be made aware that no reward is due to the finder when it is on a formal excavation)
11. Those under the age of 17 may only work on an excavation if accompanied at all times by a parent/ legal guardian or a responsible adult nominated by their parent/ legal guardian.
12. Any persons aged over 77 years should be advised that they will not be covered by the “Personal Accident” section of the Institute’s insurance.
These requirements refer to excavation. Other activities such as field walking and geophysical surveys fall under the Institute’s general insurance cover when conducted under the auspices of the Field Group. Those organising and carrying out such activities have a responsibility under Health and Safety requirements to ensure at all times the safety of others and of themselves.
This policy was approved by the Committee of the Institute’s Archaeological Field Group on 15th October 2008 and by the Institute’s Council on 1st November 2008.
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