Our other division, Foundations Heritage offers professional high quality advice on projects affecting historic assets. This is of paramount importance at many stages during the development process. Foundations Heritage has over 50 years joint experience in the provision of heritage advice, guidance, risk management and recommendations.

As part of this we offer:

Desk Based Assessments:
A desk-based assessment involves the study and analysis of existing data sources for a site and its immediate environs, including written, graphic, photographic and electronic information. The purpose of the assessment is to consider the character of the study area, the likelihood that heritage assets may be present, their significance and setting and the potential impact of any development.

Environmental Impact Assessment:
Certain projects are required by law to have an EIA undertaken to assess the possible positive or negative impacts that a proposed project may have on the natural, historic, social and economic environment. The product of an EIA is an Environmental Statement, which will assess each individual environmental aspect by chapter. Foundations Archaeology has considerable experience in preparation of Chapters to form part of an Environmental Statement.

Heritage Assessment:
The specific requirement for a Heritage Assessment can include a number of different archaeological responses; at its most basic it can require no more than a check of the relevant Historic Environment Record, but can include other more detailed pieces of work including Desk Based Assessment, Historic Building Recording and Evaluation.

Evaluation:
Archaeological evaluation consists of non-intrusive and/or intrusive fieldwork which determines the presence/absence of archaeological features, structures, deposits or finds within a targeted area. Where archaeological remains are identified, the evaluation endeavours to define their character, extent, quality and preservation in order to allow an assessment of their value. A suitable report and archive will be produced at the end of the works.

Excavation:
Archaeological excavation comprises the open area excavation of a defined area (the site). The project will have clear research objectives and will investigate, record and interpret any archaeological deposits, features and structures present and retrieves any artefacts, ecofacts or other remains. The project will include detailed post-excavation proposals resulting in analysis of the results and appropriate publication in an academic journal or other vehicle.

Artefact and Ecofact Analysis:
Artefacts (man-made objects) and ecofacts (faunal or floral material modified or used by humans) are usually the main categories of ‘finds’ recovered from non-desk based archaeological projects. These finds will need specialist assessment and analysis to appropriate academic standards. Foundations Archaeology can undertake this assessment in-house, or through use of one of our recommended sub-contractors.

Cemetery Clearance:
Development of former cemetery sites can be an expensive and time-consuming process. Foundations Archaeology is experienced in the cost-effective removal of human remains, including acquisition of relevant permissions and licenses and arrangements for reburial.

Land Quality Assessment:
Foundations Archaeology can provide desk studies and site walkovers for land quality assessments compliant with NHBC Chapter 4.1.

Foundations Archaeology has a strong policy on outreach and community involvement through provision of information through a variety of media, including talks at local societies, school and community visits and information boards. We also take a number of work placements each year from local schools and from universities across the country.

Archaeological surveys may take many forms, including landscape field survey and aerial photographic survey. It usually involves an attempt to identify archaeological sites and define the distribution of past human activity, often across a wide area and is commonly associated with large-scale projects such as road schemes, but can also be applied to large formal gardens or historic parkland.

Fieldwalking:
This process is only generally suitable for arable, preferably recently ploughed and unsown, fields and involves the systematic collection of artefacts and ecofacts visible in the topsoil, usually either by line walking linear transects or grid walking defined squares. The resulting finds are analysed and distribution plans prepared by archaeological period to help define areas of potential

Historic Building Recording:
The recording of historic buildings that are to be affected by redevelopment or are under threat from other causes is a growing field within the heritage industry. The recording will act to establish the character, history, dating, form and development of a specified building, structure, or complex and its setting (CIfA 2011). Foundations has extensive experience in undertaking such surveys at all levels as set out in CIfA and Historic England Guidance (2006); from basic Level 1 and photographic surveys, through to more complex Level 3 and 4 surveys.

Photographic Surveys:
Photographic surveys may be required on a number of different types of heritage asset, although these are most commonly associated with landscape survey and historic building survey. Foundations can undertake high quality photographic surveys using 35mm, medium format and digital SLR cameras.

An archaeological watching brief comprises a defined programme of observation and investigation conducted during any non-archaeological groundworks or other activity on a site where the possibility exists that archaeological deposits may be disturbed or destroyed.