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Farming and Archaeology

The Service provides advice for farmers and other landowners on the presence and significance of archaeological sites on their lands.  Working in partnership, it can then be possible to develop more 'archaeologically-friendly management which will provide increased protection for sites that may be affected simply by everyday farming practices.  Grants may be available to assist with this.

Today's landscape is the product of thousands of years of human activity. Archaeology is the study of the past through the material remains of this activity. Every parish in Worcestershire contains sites of archaeological interest (see the Sites and Monuments Record).

Items of interest to archaeologists can include anything from flint tools to castle mounds. Whatever the shape or size, all of these items contain information about our ancestors. They are the evidence, sometimes the only evidence, for the development of our heritage.

Archaeological remains are irreplaceable and vulnerable. Careful management is therefore essential to ensure that this important heritage survives in good condition. Landowners and farm managers play a vital role in a partnership with archaeologists to achieve this aim.



Section through an Iron Age / Roman farm enclosure ditch at Kemerton, Worcs. Note how close the remains are to the surface.

Recognising Archaeology on the ground

Archaeological sites on farmland can be identified from a wide range of evidence. Some are obvious whilst others are only discovered through careful detective work.

Earthworks

Earthworks are perhaps the most easily visible archaeological remains. 'Humps and bumps' that stand out from the surrounding landscape in pasture may reflect a wide range of sites. Examples include the ramparts of Iron Age hillforts, medieval castle mounds, medieval village houses and streets, medieval ploughing marks (ridge and furrow) and medieval fishponds. Advice should be sought before any disturbance to establish the significance of such sites (see below).

Cropmarks and Soilmarks

Even when fields have been ploughed flat the buried archaeology can sometimes be seen from the air. The shadows thrown across young, or ripening, crops can pick out the lines of the walls and ditches of farmsteads, villages and field systems buried below the soil.

Soil marks can sometimes be seen in newly ploughed soil which indicate the presence of walls, or of spreads of burning that may indicate hearths or areas of industrial activity.

A change in the farming regime, such as deeper ploughing, may accelerate the decay of such sites.

Individual finds

Any ground disturbance, but particularly ploughing or stock erosion, can reveal objects which may provide the first indication of the presence of an archaeological site. Fragments of pottery, flint, worked stone, bone or metal work might seem insignificant in themselves but may prove to be of great importance as evidence accumulates.

Farm buildings

Farm buildings are often of archaeological interest themselves. Some farm buildings are older than they look, having been adapted for new uses in later centuries. Whether timber-framed or brick-built, these buildings provide important information about the medieval, post medieval and industrial periods. It is important to be able to make a record of such buildings before any alteration or demolition.

Ancient hedgerows

Curved thick hedges can indicate the line of medieval, or earlier, boundaries. Earth banks and ditches can also represent former boundaries. These often survive well in ancient woodland. Such boundaries provide information about historic land use.

Documentary research

Not all sites may be apparent from evidence on the ground. Documentary sources (i.e. old estate maps or enclosure awards) may identify the sites of buildings that have now been demolished - but whose remains may lie buried and are as yet undetected.

The impact of farming
Some farming practices help preserve archaeological sites. Earthworks are well-protected in pasture land (as long as stock erosion is controlled). Good practice to prevent soil erosion also helps below ground preservation.
Inevitably, some farming techniques do impact on archaeological remains.

• Deep ploughing, subsoiling and panbusting can flatten earthworks and disturb buried deposits. Even shallow ploughing can, over a period of years, disturb and destroy archaeological remains;
• Regular chain harrowing on pasture can also erode earthwork sites;
• Tree planing on known archaeological sites can disturb buried archaeology and earthworks through root action;
• Excavation works such as pond creation, new building work and landscaping can also impact on buried archaeological remains. This might not be obvious. For instance, it might seem helpful to clean out an old pond and restore the shape of its banks. Dredging a pond may, however, destroy valuable evidence within the silts for identifying the changing environment and care must be taken in not damaging the original profiles;
• Historic farm buildings may be affected by conversion, alteration, dereliction and demolition.

Farmers and archaeologists, working in partnership, can work to avoid damaging significant archaeological sites whilst still allowing farming to develop as a modern business.

Archaeology and the law

Some aspects of archaeological management are covered by legal statute or planning policy.

Rights of ownership

In most cases (with the prime exception of Treasure), the owner of the land is recognised as the owner of any finds that are made. Removal of finds from land without the owner's permission may be classed as theft. It should also be noted that the landowner remains the owner of any finds that are made during archaeological fieldwork. The archaeologist will normally recommend that any such finds are donated to an appropriate museum to ensure their long-term preservation.

Treasure

The Treasure Act 1996 replaced Treasure Trove legislation and extended the protection of law to a wider range of finds. Treasure is now defined as:-

• All hoards of gold or silver coins at least 300 years old (a hoard is defined as two or more coins found in close proximity)
• All hoards of other coins with a precious metal content of less than 120% and at least 300 years old (a hoard is defined as ten or more coins found in close proximity).
• Objects at least 300 years old with a minimum precious metal content of 10%.
• Objects found in archaeological association with treasure.
• Any object over 200 years old of outstanding historical, archaeological or cultural importance.

Under the Act, the finder is responsible for reporting them to the District Coroner within 14 days. This can be done by letter, telephone or fax. The owner and the County SMR will be notified, although the find will be regarded as confidential until the issue of 'treasure' is resolved or in cases where site security or other issues are considered important.
If the object is not identified as 'treasure' the museum or County Archaeological Service will inform the coroner, who may then decide to give directions that the find should be returned to the finder without holding an inquest. If the find is believed to be 'treasure' they will inform the British Museum. This will decide whether they, or any other museum may wish to acquire it. If so, an inquest will be held and the find valued to ensure that the finder receives a fair price. If no museum wishes to acquire the find it will be returned to the owner.

Failure to follow the terms of the Treasure Act 1996 may be punishable by fine, imprisonment or both.

• A voluntary reporting scheme has also been established to ensure that other items of archaeological interest that are not treasure are recorded. These can be reported to the County Archaeological Service or your local museum.

The County Archaeological Service welcomes consultation by landowners to establish whether land contains known archaeological sites and whether it is appropriate to allow metal detecting. The landowner is strongly advised to enter into a formal agreement with any detectorist who is given permission to search land.

Scheduled Ancient Monuments

Some monuments are protected as Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs). They are thereby classed as being of national importance. There are currently c.150 within Worcestershire, although it is recognised that the list is not complete and the numbers are likely to rise significantly. An owner of a SAM should be sent an official notification by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) which will explain the restrictions that this brings. In essence, it is an offence to carry out any ground-breaking work on a SAM without prior consent. It is also against the law to use a metal detector on a SAM.

Human remains

Human remains and disused burial grounds are also protected by law. A licence from the Home Office is required before disturbing any human remains where their presence is known or suspected. Should human remains be discovered accidentally then the Coroner should be informed, as well as the County Archaeological Service.

Development Control

Archaeology is a material consideration when planning decisions are made, including those on agricultural buildings (as per County Structure Plan, Local Development Plans and National PPG16). The County Archaeological Service are consulted by Local Planning Authorities regarding the potential impact of developments on sites of archaeological interest. Only a small number of planning applications prove to have an archaeological impact. If significant archaeology is likely to be disturbed then a recommendation may be made to seek further information via an evaluation prior to the determination of the planning application. A planning condition may also be made to allow salvage recording during the course of building works. The developer will be responsible for funding such evaluations or salvage recording.

Help us to help you

A landowner may not be aware that there is a site of archaeological interest on the land. There is no automatic system that informs a landowner of an archaeological site on their land other than a Scheduled Ancient Monument (which form a tiny minority of the whole). In most cases, ownership is not known until details of a planning application for a particular land parcel are submitted, or an application for a Countryside Stewardship or Forestry grant is made. Nevertheless, experience has shown that an early awareness of the nature and significance of archaeological sites on a farm is the best way of ensuring their appropriate protection - by the archaeologist and farmer acting in partnership.

Early Consultation

If you do suspect that you have any site of archaeological interest on your land then contact the County Archaeological Service for advice. We can check to see if the site is already on the Sites and Monuments Record (SMR). If it is not already on the SMR we will ask you for the details so that it can be added.

You may wish to consider commissioning an 'archaeological audit' to establish where the known sites are throughout your landholding. This may assist applications to schemes such as Countryside Stewardship or Woodland Improvement.

Reporting Discoveries

If you make a discovery of archaeological interest report it to the County Archaeological Service. If possible record the location of the find. Exact location and depth below ground are important information. Do not attempt to clean any finds as this may actually damage them. Seek advice before making the location of discoveries public. It may encourage people onto your land and endanger the archaeology.

Practical Assistance

If you have a SAM on your land and want advice on how to manage it - contact English Heritage, or the County Archaeological Service. Grants may be available to assist in the repair and management of the monument.

Other grant schemes are available which encourage sympathetic management of archaeological sites. For example, countryside stewardship supports the conservation and creation of unimproved grassland, which helps in the preservation of earthworks. Also, DEFRA's Farm and Conservation Grant Scheme helps towards the cost of repairing traditional farm buildings. The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group can offer advice about such grant schemes.

For further Information contact the

Countryside Archaeology Advisor

Adam Mindykowski on 01905 855597

OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS

Regional Inspector of Ancient Monuments, West Midlands Region, English Heritage, 112 Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 3AG

County Museum Service, Hartlebury Castle, Hartlebury, Kidderminster, DY11 7ZX

Worcester Police (Coroner's Officer) 01905 723888

The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group.

The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group is a national charity (No. 326348) that unites wildlife and landscape conservation with farming and forestry. There is a full-time advisor for Worcestershire.

FWAG, Block C, Government Buildings, Whittington Road, Worcester WR5 2LQ, Tel: 01905 763355, Fax: 01905 76318

Downloadable  leaflet on Farming and Archaeology  (35.74 KB)  (PDF format)