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National & Major Regional Projects

Understanding the big picture

as_archaeoinvest_berntheomm.jpg  Research by English Heritage's Archaeological Survey & Investigation Team helps to improve the understanding of the historic environment throughout England. We provide the accurate information necessary to advance both academic debate and practical day-to-day conservation work. Amateur groups and professional archaeological outfits tend to carry out localised projects, and we ourselves carry out local investigations. To complement these research projects, a large part of our work is thematic, aiming to improve the understanding of a particular type of site throughout the whole country, and sometimes internationally. To achieve the breadth of coverage we want, often work closely with colleagues who are experts in other techniques, especially the Aerial Survey and Historic Buildings teams. Each of our thematic national and major regional research projects generally lasts between 3 and 5 years, and usually results in a major publication.

Select from the lists below, or on the left, to find out more about the national and major regional projects we are currently involved in. You can also find out more about the criteria we apply in deciding what projects we should engage in, or contact us.


  • Standing stone on the Mendip Hills
    The Mendip Hills
    Noted for their cave deposits and other outstanding prehistoric monuments, the Mendip Hills forms the subject of a new research project aimed enhancing the understanding of its historic environment.
  • The Malvern Hills: an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty where we are improving the understanding of the historic landscape.
    Malvern Hills
    Known today as a source of mineral water, the Malvern Hills are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty whose historic connection with water stretches back to Middle Ages. Our examination of the region's monuments has spoiled some long-held theories, but raised some intriguing new questions.
  • Quantocks landscape (NMR 21958/4)
    Quantock Hills
    The Quantock Hills AONB lies in West Somerset, north of Taunton and west of Bridgewater. The Archaeological Investigation Team has recently started a survey of the historic environment. Through the survey of the open commons, we are beginning to understand more about all kinds of archaeological sites.
  • The stunning landscape of the Cheviot Hills, transformed overnight by a sudden snowfall.
    Cheviot Hillforts
    Iron Age hillforts in the wild uplands of the Northumberland National Park are amongst the best preserved in Europe, in stunningly beautiful settings. A 5-year partnership with the National Park Authority is helping to explain how and why these remarkable monuments were built nearly 2,500 years ago. Many sites are accessible to visitors.
  • Cup-and-ring mark on Old Bewick Hill, Northumberland.
    Prehistoric Rock-Art
    Rock-art - a variety of beautiful yet indecipherable symbols dating to the Stone Age - is scattered across much of Britain and Ireland. English Heritage is working with others to encourage amateur enthusiasts to get involved in a national recording project. We are also taking a fresh look at some of the most promising sites.
  • The rocket test stand at Spadeadam Range, Cumbria.
    The Cold War
    The joint project undertaken by the Landscape Investigation and Historic Buildings Teams focusing on the monuments of the Cold War is nearing completion and the project publication is in its final stages of preparation.
  • Beverley Common, in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
    Urban Commons
    Town commons were an important element within the urban fabric from the medieval period onwards but are a neglected part of the landscape for historians and archaeologists.
  • Water provided power for industry and so was one of the Lake District's most important assets.
    Cumbrian Gunpowder Industry
    Far from being a place of tranquility, the Lake District has in the past been a hotbed of industrial activity. Gunpowder was the key to much of this and production of the 'black powder' in the region became a major industry in its own right.
  • Recording alum works on the Yorkshire coast.
    North-East Alum Industry
    The mining of alum to produce a dye fixer began in the 17th century and is regarded as Britain's earliest 'chemical industry'. We are working to understand several vast sites on the north-east coast before they are lost forever to the sea.
  • Sheep: responsible for the creating a unique wildlife environment and for preserving ancient monuments.
    South Downs
    The controversial decision to turn the South Downs into a National Park means that thorough research is needed to ensure that the wealth of prehistoric and later monuments scattered across the rolling chalk hills will be valued as highly as the plants and wildlife.
  • A typical cursus monument, now only identifiable from the air.
    Cursus Enclosures
    English Heritage is working with others to improve the understanding of some of England's earliest and rarest ritual monuments: cursus enclosures and bank barrows.

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