Archaeological Evaluation
An Archaeological Evaluation is undertaken to determine whether significant archaeological remains are present within a development site and, if so, to assess their nature, extent, and significance. KAS Archaeological Services provides professional evaluation services through test pitting and trial trenching, helping developers and planning authorities make informed decisions about how archaeological heritage should be managed as part of the planning process.
Archaeological evaluation is usually recommended following a Desk-Based Assessment where there is potential for buried archaeological remains. The work involves the targeted excavation of small areas across a site to sample the underlying deposits. This may take the form of test pits, which are smaller hand-excavated investigations often used on constrained sites or in gardens and built environments, or trial trenches, which are larger machine-excavated trenches designed to provide a representative sample of the site’s archaeological deposits. These methods allow archaeologists to identify any archaeological features such as pits, ditches, walls, or occupation layers, and to recover artefacts and environmental evidence that help to date and interpret the remains.
Within the UK planning system, archaeological evaluation is typically required by the Local Planning Authority following advice from the county or regional archaeological advisor. The results provide the evidence needed to determine whether further mitigation—such as preservation in situ, excavation, or a watching brief—may be necessary before development proceeds. In some cases, evaluation may demonstrate that no significant archaeological remains are present, allowing planning conditions to be discharged without further archaeological work.
KAS Archaeological Services undertakes archaeological evaluations in accordance with a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) agreed with the relevant planning authority and in line with the standards of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA). Our work is carefully planned to minimise disruption to development while providing robust archaeological evidence. Following fieldwork, we produce clear illustrated reports summarising the results and their significance, ensuring that developers, planners, and heritage professionals have the information needed to manage archaeological heritage responsibly.