Policy - proposed policy for Sheffield City Council Archaeological Fieldwork on its Land

"As a landowner, the City Council recognises it has a responsibility to conserve and protect archaeological remains on its land. All archaeological evidence is unique and irreplaceable and constitutes a cultural asset that needs to be protected for the benefit of future generations.  Archaeological evidence also provides an opportunity for enhancing our understanding of past societies through investigation. Such investigations can also act as an important focus for community engagement. The City Council, therefore, welcomes carefully thought-out research proposals for investigation of remains on its land.

The Council will take advice from the South Yorkshire Archaeology Service, its archaeological advisers, on the suitability of any proposals for archaeological fieldwork on its land. Research proposals that include non-intrusive techniques, such as building recording, earthwork survey, geophysical survey and field-walking, will always be welcomed. Research proposals that include excavation will need to take into account all the implications of removing archaeological evidence from its burial environment.

For non-threatened archaeological remains, excavation may be considered appropriate if it can be demonstrated that the recovered evidence will be analysed and reported on to the South Yorkshire Archaeology Service and the resulting archive deposited with Sheffield City Museum (or another appropriate publicly accessible archive), for long term curation, within a reasonable timescale (to be agreed with both the South Yorkshire Archaeology Service and the museum). No excavation will be allowed if this approach cannot be followed; in such instances the archaeological evidence will be considered less at risk of loss or damage if it is left buried. 

Metal detecting involves excavation to recover finds, removing them from the context in which they were deposited and risking loss of archaeological evidence, as well as producing items that may need conservation and long-term curation. This activity will, therefore, be considered as excavation for the purposes of this policy.”

. If you can get any comments back to Dinah by Friday January 27th, either individually, or representing a society, they will be very welcome.
Please email comments back to dinah.saich@sheffield.gov.uk