Project evaluation

Time Team excavations don't start when the diggers arrive nor finish when they leave. Each programme is preceded by preliminary research – including, where necessary, the production of a 'Project Design' or evaluation, which spells out what the Team intends to do during the dig and what will happen to finds and records afterwards.

The evaluation for the Cheshunt programme is comparatively brief; those for scheduled sites can run to many thousands of words. But it gives an idea of how Time Team digs are planned – and what happens (the post-excavation work) when the camera crews and diggers have departed.

Proposed archaeological evaluation at Cheshunt, Hertfordshire: Project design

Jenni Butterworth, Researcher, Videotext Communications Ltd

1 Background

1.1 Description of the site

1.11 The site is situated in Cheshunt Park, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.
1.12 In the 1950s and 60s, a team of local amateur archaeologists dug a series of excavations across the park, in search of Roman remains.
1.13 The site is currently a public park, and is an area of special grassland.

1.2 Circumstances of the project

1.21 This project design outlines a proposed archaeological evaluation to be undertaken as part of a Channel Four Time Team television programme and will be carried out within their established format over three days. Time Team is made by Videotext Communications Ltd. It is anticipated that the project will be carried out over 26-28 June 2001.
1.22 The site is owned by Broxbourne Borough Council, and has public access. It is an area of special grassland. Videotext Communications Ltd is responsible for negotiating all relevant permissions for carrying out the work.
1.23 Videotext Communications Ltd is responsible for the organization and cost of all backfilling and reinstatement at the site, to the satisfaction of the landowner and relevant archaeological standards.

1.3 Archaeology and Time Team: statement and responsibility

1.31 The working relationship between archaeologists and film crews on Time Team excavations has been refined during the production of over seventy episodes of the programme. All crews have extensive experience of filming on archaeological sites and are aware of both the archaeological and health and safety issues posed by such work.
1.32 On site, all decisions regarding the work are formulated from an archaeological perspective by the archaeological team present, assisted by the relevant specialists and local archaeological officers, with reference to the project design. In case of disputes between crews and archaeologists over work in progress, the ultimate archaeological responsibility for meeting the terms of the project design for Time Team lies with Professor Mick Aston.

1.4 Previous archaeological work

1.41 Local amateur archaeologists (led by the Mullingers and Howletts) excavated a series of trenches over a wide area of the park in the 1950s and 1960s. The main excavations were in 'Pump Meadow', where they discovered a flue/drain system with an oven/drier, and various areas of hardstanding. In addition, they discovered what may be a building or workshop area. Further finds were made to the north, in 'Sixteen Acres'. More recently, Roman material was also discovered in 'Sixteen Acres' during pylon erection, and an evaluation in the south of the park is currently underway.
1.42 The Mullinger/Howlett paper archive is deposited in Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies Library, and Jean Mullinger retains some papers as well. A sample of the finds recovered are deposited at Lowewood Museum, Broxbourne. The project team have had access to all three sources prior to the work commencing. Both the county SMR and Record Office have also been consulted for documentation relating to Cheshunt.

1.5 Archive deposition

1.51 It is intended that, subject to the agreement of the landowner, the excavated material and records will be deposited and curated at Lowewood Museum.
1.52 The archive will include all materials recovered and all written, drawn and photographic records relating directly to the investigations undertaken. It will be quantified, ordered, indexed and internally consistent before transfer to the recipient museum. It will also contain a site matrix, a site summary and brief written observations on the artifactual and environmental data.

2 Aims and objectives

2.1 Research design

2.11 This project offers the opportunity to collate the information about, and re-establish the location of, the previous excavations at the site and establish the nature of Roman settlement in the park.
2.12 The work carried out during this project will form an important resource for the future management and interpretation of the site.
2.13 Although small in scale, a well-resourced three day evaluation is sufficient to address a number of specific aims and objectives. These can be divided into categories which represent the over-arching aims of the work (a) to characterize the archaeological resource at the site, and (b) to provide a condition survey of the monument:

1. To establish the extent and location of the previous excavations at the site.
2. To assess the nature of Roman settlement at the site.
3. To locate the course of Ermine Street through Cheshunt Park.
4. To examine the reported pits in 'Pump Meadow'.

2.2 Publication and presentation

2.21 Post-excavation analysis, archive management and writing of the archaeological report will be undertaken by Time Team's archaeological officer, Kate Edwards, on behalf of Videotext Communications Ltd. The report will be submitted to the county SMR. It will include:

1. The aims and methods adopted in the course of investigation.
2. The nature, location, extent, date, significance and quality of any archaeological and environmental material uncovered.
3. The anticipated degree of survival of archaeological deposits and structures across the site, as deduced from its present state and recent past.
4. Appropriate illustrative material including maps, plans, sections, drawings and photographs.
5. Summary, including comparison between 2, 3 and 4.
6. The location and size of the archive.
7. Recommendations for future research.

2.22 Specialist and finds reports for inclusion in the archaeological report will be prepared by experts contracted by Videotext Communications Ltd.
2.23 A geophysical survey report including diagrams, text and interpretation on a CAD system will be prepared. Copies of the field data and report will lodged with the county SMR.

3 Methods statement

3.1 Survey

3.11 Any contour survey of the site will be carried out using a Trimble Real Time Differential GPS survey system or similar.

3.2 Geophysical survey

3.21 The instruments used will be a Geoscan FM36 gradiometer, and an RM15 resistance meter. The survey area will be divided into 20x20m grids and sampled at 0.5m intervals/1m transects (magnetometer) and 1m interval/1m transects (resistance meter). The results will be analyzed using a mixture of GSB and commercial software.

3.3 Trench array

3.31 The outline below indicates the potential array of evaluation trenches which has been formulated following site visits. However, the exact locations and dimensions for each trench are considered to be a matter of professional judgment and will be decided on site, by the project team, following geophysical and topographic survey. Final decisions on-site will be the responsibility of Mick Aston, as stated in section 1.32.
3.32 Trench array:

1. One trench across the main Mullinger/Howlett excavation site to locate and examine the oven/flue complex.
2. One trench across the main Mullinger/Howlett excavation site to locate and examine the building/workshop complex.
3. One trench or trenches to evaluate the possible route of Ermine Street and associated features, as inferred from aerial photographs.
4. One trench or trenches to evaluate the area of possible pits in 'Pump Meadow'.
5. Shovel-pitting within Ravenscroft wood, and a possible trench across the adjacent lane, to test the second potential route of Ermine Street.
6. Further trenches as required to assess geophysical anomalies.

3.4 Excavation methodology

3.41 Whilst investigation will not be at the expense of any structures, features or finds which might reasonably be considered to merit preservation in situ (or by in any way prejudicial to the protection of such remains), it is important that a sufficient sample is studied to allow the resolution of the principal questions outlined in the aims and objectives above.
3.42 All machine work will be under archaeological supervision and will cease immediately if significant evidence is revealed. The machine used will be powerful enough for a clean job of work and able to mound spoil neatly, a safe distance from trench edges.
3.43 The likelihood of discovering human remains is considered to be slim. However, a Home Office licence for the accidental disturbance of human remains will be obtained in advance of the project. Should any such human remains be discovered, they will be lifted and studied under the appropriate Home Office and Environmental Health regulations.
3.44 Any finds of gold and silver will be removed to a safe place on the same working day as the discovery and reported to the local Coroner according to the procedures outlined in the Treasure Act 1996.
3.45 It is proposed that all spoil is metal detected, by a detectorist to be recommended by local archaeological services.

3.5 On-site recording

3.51 The standard Time Team recording systems will be used: all contexts and features will be recorded using standard pro-forma context record sheets; a record of the full extent in plan of all archaeological deposits encountered will be made (1:20); at least one long section will be drawn per trench (1:10); the OD of all principal strata and features will be indicated on appropriate plans and sections; a photographic record of the investigations and individual features will be prepared.
3.52 All trenches will be related to the National Grid/Ordnance Datum by local control using the 25" digital map. Both a site location map and a trench location plan will be prepared and included in the report.
3.53 All Time Team surveys, earthwork and geophysics, are compatible with each other. Surveys will be related to the National Grid/Ordnance Datum by local control using the 25" digital map. Digital copies of the survey data will be lodged with the county SMR.
3.54 A unique-number site code will be agreed with the regional museum.

3.6 Environmental and scientific sampling

3.61 An environmental specialist will be on call in case of preserved organic deposits.
3.62 A conservator will be on standby.

4 Resources and programming

4.1 Staffing and equipment

4.11 See Appendix 1 for a list of Time Team personnel responsible for meeting the tasks in section 3.

4.12 As well as the usual Time Team personnel, the project team for the evaluation will include specialists selected to cover all relevant areas of expertise and knowledge which are likely to be required during and after the work.
4.13 The archaeological field team will consist of field archaeologists of recognised competence, suitably experienced in work of this character. They will be drawn from both Time Team and Cambridge Archaeological Unit.
4.14 All relevant health and safety legislation, regulations and codes of practice will be respected. A health and safety risk assessment will be carried out in advance of the work and all work on site monitored by elected health and safety officers.

4.2 Timetable

4.21 The excavation report, archive and publication article will be completed within one year of the work, subject to the submission of specialist reports. All relevant archaeological bodies will be informed of the projected timetable of works and promptly advised as to any proposed changes to this timetable.
4.22 It is intended that the archive will be presented to the archive officer or appropriate curator of the recipient museum within twelve months of the completion of fieldwork.

4.3 Budget

4.31 All excavation and post-excavation costs will be negotiated and paid for by Videotext Communications Ltd. All holding costs and conservation costs will be negotiated and paid for by Videotext Communications Ltd.

5 Appendix

Table of staff and tasks

Prof Mick Aston
Archaeological Consultant, Time Team Professor of Landscape Archaeology, University of Bristol
Overall responsibility for on-site strategy for Time Team and meeting the terms of the project design as outlined in section 1.32

Phil Harding
Project officer, Trust for Wessex Archaeology

Stewart Ainsworth
Senior investigator, English Heritage Archaeological Survey

Dr Henry Chapman
Head of Survey, Wetland Archaeology and Environment Research Centre, University of Hull
Responsible for all survey and tie-in data, as outlined in sections 3.1 and 3.5

John Gater
Dr Chris Gaffney
Partners, GSB Prospection
Responsible for all geophysical survey, as outlined in sections 2.23 and 3.2

Kate Edwards
Archaeological officer, Time Team
Responsible for post-excavation, archive management and report writing, as outlined in section 2.21.