Archaeology and Extraction

The Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) provides funds to tackle a wide range of problems in areas affected by the extraction of aggregates, including those imposed by road transportation of quarry materials: noise; dust; blasting vibration; derogation of surface water flows and pollution of groundwater; visual intrusion; loss of heritage, loss of wildlife habitat and loss of amenity. Stakeholders for the fund therefore include the Countryside Agency, English Heritage, local authorities and various government departments. English Heritage supports projects to develop the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of sites, monuments, building and landscapes that have been, or may be in the future, affected by aggregate extraction. A diverse range of projects have been carried out by community groups, the independent and voluntary sector, local government, universities, commercial and contracting organizations, and the aggregates industry itself.

The use of aerial photography is an extremely effecitve way of identifying, characterising and recording archaeological sites and landscapes Therefore English Heritage have commissioned a number of projects to carry out archaeological aerial surveys in areas affected by the aggregates industry. To ensure a national consistency in the data each project uses National Mapping Programme (NMP) methodology. ALSF projects including archaeological aerial survey cover parts of Hampshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Suffolk, South and West Yorkshire and County Durham. The resulting archaeological maps and detailed descriptions of each site form a base line of data which can be used to improve the information available to local authorities for making decisions about archaeological mitigation in response to current and future aggregate industry applications. ALSF projects are usually multi-disciplinary and the mapping from aerial photographs plays a key role in the production of research and management frameworks for the minerals resource areas.

Durham ALSF NMP

The Durham ALSF NMP project is part of a wider project carried out in partnership with Durham County Council and Archaeological Research Services with funding from English Heritage via the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF).
Norfolk ALSF NMP

The Norfolk ALSF NMP forms part the Norfolk Aggregates Assessment Project (5241). The main impetus behind the project is the proposed alteration to patterns of future aggregate extraction within Norfolk in the next fifteen years and the consequent need to plan for the archaeological impact of this changed approach.
Frampton on Severn ALSF NMP

The Frampton on Severn ALSF project is being carried out as part of the National Mapping Programme (NMP) funded by the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF). The overall aim of the project is to enhance the archaeological record of this area, which is rich in archaeological material but an area which has also seen extensive aggregate extraction.
Magnesian Limestone in South and West Yorkshire NMP

The Magnesian Limestone in South and West Yorkshire project has been devised to provide a better overall understanding of the nature, distribution and chronology of the archaeology of the aggregate yielding geology of the project area in order that its results might be used toward providing a more focussed, meaningful and consistent approach in the archaeological requirements for mitigating the impact of the aggregates industry in the future.
Leadon Valley ALSF NMP

The Leadon Valley Sand and Gravel Aggregates Area NMP project is being undertaken to improve the amount and quality of archaeological information available for the potential aggregate producing area of the Leadon Valley. This will allow for the provision of more informed advice regarding the archaeological impact of aggregate extraction.
Suffolk ALSF NMP

Funded by the Aggregates Levy Sustainabilty Fund (ALSF) the Suffolk ALSF NMP project is assessing the archaeological resource in potential mineral extraction areas. The first area that the project team looked at was the sand and gravel rich Felixstowe peninsula.
Thornborough Henges NMP

The Thornborough Henges ALSF NMP was done as a major contribution to the English Heritage Conservation Plan for the area immediately surrounding one of the most intriguing prehistoric ritual complexes in Britain.
Till Tweed NMP

The Till Tweed NMP project is one of four main strands of the Till-Tweed Geoarchaeology Project that together form a coherent body of research and assessment. The Till-Tweed Geoarchaeology Project is funded by the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) and operated by Drs Clive Waddington and Dave Passmore, University of Newcastle.
Warwickshire ALSF NMP

The Warwickshire NMP project is sampling areas within the county that have known potential for aggregate extraction and those that could have.

The images used on this page are copyright English Heritage unless specified otherwise. For further details of any photographs or other images and for copies of these, or the plans and reports related to the project please contact the NMR English Heritage's public archive.

For further information on a project or any other aspect of the work of the Aerial Survey team please contact us at: AerialSurvey@english-heritage.org.uk.

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