Evaluation
What is it?
An evaluation is a method of determining the amount of archaeology within a specific area. This will usually involve a series of trenches excavated by mechanical excavators or hand excavated test-pits down to the level of undisturbed superficial geology (the natural geology of the area) below the present-day topsoil and subsoil.
The evaluation can be a requirement for planning permission or undertaken to assist with a planning proposal.
The evaluation trenches or test-pits can be located over specific areas to target certain points of interest or randomly placed across the development area to give a broad overview of the archaeology within.
Each evaluation trench or test-pit will be recorded regardless of any archaeology present (the absence of archaeology is just as important as the presence of archaeology) prior to being backfilled. A report will be prepared based on the information retrieved from the evaluation.