The Magnesian Limestone in South and West Yorkshire

Archaeological Mapping and Assessment Project

The project aims to provide a better overall understanding of the nature, distribution and chronology of the archaeology of the aggregate yielding geology of the study area in order that its results might be used towards providing a more focussed, meaningful and consistent approach in the archaeological requirements for mitigating the impact of the aggregates industry in the future.

This project aims to provided a synthesis of data and will also provide an inter-county overview of the rural archaeological landscape. The data will allow for the better assessment of the implications of reviews of Minerals Local Plans and UDPs thus fostering closer liaison between Mineral Planners, Minerals Operators and curatorial archaeologists in different local authorities.

This project would also aim to raise the profile of the rural archaeology of the aggregate landscapes in the surrounding communities, so improving people’s perceptions of where they live, and helping to engender a sense of identity and local pride. Thus a key objective will be to disseminate the results of the project by a variety of means to meet both popular and academic requirements.

The following Aims and Objectives have been identified.

Aims
1) Provide a resource that will foster a common understanding of the nature, character and research issues of the archaeology of the study area, towards eradicating cross-county disparities in mitigation strategies for aggregate extraction schemes for future Minerals Local Plans, LDFs and UDPs.

2) Contribute to a review of a broader synthetic level of archaeological understanding to help develop predictive and management tools for the aggregates industry, mineral planners and archaeological curators (e.g. English Heritage 1991, 25-6; Olivier 1996, 41-2).

3) Enhance the understanding of the archaeology of the aggregate producing areas and its investigation through mineral extraction and so assist in an ongoing process of landscape characterisation (i.e. SMR enhancement).

Objectives
4) Provide (both for the project and as a form of SMR enhancement) a comprehensive map of archaeological features recorded to date from air photographs in the study area.

5) Provide (both for the project and as a form of SMR enhancement) a comprehensive map of archaeological features recorded to date from geophysical survey and excavation in the study area.

6) Redefine baseline knowledge of the archaeology of the Magnesian Limestone and its margins towards the creation of a research framework to inform mitigation requirements for future aggregate.

7) Provide a correlation of mapped archaeological landscape data with the past, present and future aggregates resource that will enhance existing SMR records.

8) Establish a better understanding of the extent and chronological development of settlement and exploitation of the Magnesian Limestone in the later Iron Age and Roman periods.

9) Raise awareness in the local communities of the archaeology of the aggregate producing areas and the history and role of the aggregates industry mitigating the impact of extraction and assisting in archaeological research through a series of lectures/talks, an information leaflet, and a popular booklet.

10) Provide an up to date perspective on the implications of the available archaeological evidence for the wider archaeological fraternity and other interested parties through the publication of an academic monograph.

Text by Ian Roberts (Principal Archaeologist) Archaeological Services WYAS
extracted from Roberts, I. et al, (2004)

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