Chartered Institute for Archaeologists 2023

30 Caption? on from these studies we conducted targeted geophysical survey and evaluation trenching. Once this site received planning permission, we undertook archaeological recording, analysis and dissemination of the results, based on a scalable watching brief or strip, map and sample planning condition, together with the targeted sample excavation of specific floodplain features. We selected this approach as it provided an appropriate method for rapidly and accurately assessing a large land parcel. The planning authority required a high level of information to inform its planning decision on this large- scale development. The approach enabled us to devise the most appropriate approach to post-permission works and gave confidence to the developer regarding what the scale and cost was likely to be. By creating a tailored, question-led approach we could determine what was significant about this landscape and the type of archaeological and geoarchaeological records it contained. From the outset and in a phased approach, we targeted the investigation in a way that avoided the need for digging several hundred evaluation trenches across this landscape. This meant that • there was virtually no impact on surviving sub-surface archaeological remains during the evaluation • we left no large scars on the field surface Aerial view of excavations following initial stripping and sampling works on one of the kettle holes ©Archaeological Research Services Ltd