AS is an independent practice specialising in all aspects of consulting and contracting archaeology. It was formerly Hertfordshire Archaeological Trust (HAT), formed in 1986 as an independent educational charity and company limited by guarantee. Reflecting the increasing commercialisation of archaeology, HAT was wound up in June 2003 and Archaeological Solutions (Contacts) Ltd (AS) was formed. The latter maintains the same staff complement and services as before, and is a recognized Investor in People. AS continues to undertake the full range of archaeological services nationwide, and has produced over 2000 project reports to date. 

Provision of Services 

Archaeological Solutions manages its services in-house, from its main office The Seed Warehouse. The services are provided by professionally qualified staff and are appropriate to requirements of the client. 

All project staff are regularly monitored by management, both on and off-site. AS is a member of the Standing Conference of Archaeological Unit Managers (SCAUM) and operates under their Health & Safety in Field Archaeology Manual (4th edition 2002, with updates). Risk assessments are prepared in advance of all projects. 

FIELDWORK 

Trial Trench Evaluations 
AS undertakes trial trench evaluations nationally, ranging from deep, stratified urban sites (recent projects include sites in London and Norwich) to large-scale rural projects (recent projects include Red Lodge, Suffolk and South Witham, Lincolnshire). AS has produced over 560 trial trench evaluation reports, in addition to 11 geophysical survey reports, and 5 stand-alone fieldwalking reports. 

Examples include: 

• East Ham Football Club, Beckton, London E6 (Report 728) J Murray & R Scaife 2000 Archaeological/palaeoenvironmental evaluation in advance of residential development 

• Land at South Witham, Lincolnshire (Report 829) D Hounsell 2001 Evaluation in advance of limestone quarrying 

• Bisham Abbey, Bisham, Berkshire (Report 1094) N Crank 2002 Evaluation of SAM in advance of redevelopment of sports facilities 

• Great Casterton Primary School, Rutland (Report 1095) N Crank 2002 Evaluation in advance of housing development revealed Roman inhumation cemetery 

• Duff Morgan Garage, Norwich, Norfolk (Report 1011) N Crank 2001 Evaluation in advance of redevelopment - Stratified medieval and post-medieval deposits 

Historic Building Recording
AS has produced over 120 stand-alone historic building recording/assessment/appraisal reports

Examples include:

• Leggatt's Park, North Mymms, Hertfordshire (Report No. 735) 2000 A Gibson Regency Mansion

• Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey, Essex (Report No. 825) 2001 J Murray 18th - 20th century former explosive manufacturing complex, partially a Scheduled Ancient Monument 

• Ardale Community School, Essex (Report 1140) 2002 M Wotherspoon Former approved school/poor house

• The Mill, Roxwell, Essex (Report 1321) 2003 M Wotherspoon 18th century water mill scheduled for demolition 

• Wymondley Bury, Hertfordshire (Report 1367) 2003 M Wotherspoon Post-medieval farm building complex 

• Rochester Row Magistrates Courts/Police Station, London SW1 (Report 1512) 2004 M Wotherspoon 19th/20th century court, police station, stables and accommodation 

Excavations 
AS undertakes numerous excavation projects nationally, ranging in size from small domestic extensions to substantial mineral extraction projects and large-scale housing developments (e.g. Cedars Park, Stowmarket). AS has produced over 130 excavation reports. 

Examples include: 

• Land at 12 Oak Street, Norwich (Report 1045) T McDonald & N Crank 2002 Report on stratified urban excavation of late Saxon - post-medieval date 

• St Edmunds Church & Vicarage, Temple Hill, Dartford, Kent (Report 1129) L O'Brien 2002. Saxon inhumation cemetery and late Iron Age occupation site

• Land South of the A120, Takeley, Essex (Report 1301) B Roberts 2003. Extensive Romano-British field systems along Stane Street, with earlier occupation 

• Clarence Street, Leicester (Report 895) N Crank 2001 Report on extensive Roman inhumation cemetery excavated in central Leicester 

Archaeological Monitoring & Recording (Watching Breifs) 
AS undertakes numerous archaeological monitoring and recording projects (watching briefs) nationally, ranging from domestic extensions to large infrastructure projects. AS has produced over 270 watching brief reports.

Examples include: 

• St Marys Church, Ealing, London W5 (Report 1157) D Hounsell 2002 Unexpectedly extensive late 18th century extensive vaults containing lead-lined coffins

• Takeley Sewerage Scheme, Essex (Report 1183) J Grant 2002 Monitoring of extensive infrastructure project

• Coventry Canal Basin, St Nicholas Street, Coventry (Report 1348) B Wilkins 2003 Monitoring of commercial canalside development

• Manor House, High Street, Ongar, Essex (Report 1361) B Roberts/I Turner 2003 Medieval pits to the rear of 15th century manor house. 

Auger Surveys 
AS has carried out many hand and power auger surveys, including a recent survey at St Mary's Church, Buckden, Cambridgeshire (Report 1267). AS also uses external specialists such as Palaeopol to undertake power auger surveys, under the project management of AS (e.g. recently during an evaluation at Manor Road, Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, in order to characterize medieval moat fills (Report 1286)). 

Earthwork Surveys 
AS has carried out numerous earthwork surveys to RCHME standard specifications. A recent project is the electronic surveying of a SAM at Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, on an extensive moated manorial site with house platforms and surrounding ridge and furrow. A garden survey is also currently being undertaken at Wheathampstead House, Hertfordshire, at the request of English Heritage. 

Geophysical Surveys 
AS has carried out numerous geophysical surveys (20+) over commonly using IFA Registered sub-contractors such as Stratatscan Ltd. 

Examples include: 

• National Sports Centre, Bisham Abbey, Berkshire (Report 967) 2001 Within the SAM of the Abbey 

• Proposed Football Club, Royston, Hertfordshire (Report 1209) 2002 Proximity of Scheduled Neolithic and Bronze Age barrows 

• Latimer Park House, Buckinghamshire (Report 1360) 2003 Survey to assess presence of Roman remains in proximity to extensive villa site 
  

Aerial Photographic Assessments 
AS carries out numerous aerial photographic assessments (using recognised external specialists such as Air Photo Services, under the auspices of AS). 

Examples include: 

• Block Fen, Mepal, Cambridgeshire (Report 653) 2000 Assessment of prehistoric fen edge and burial monuments prior to gravel extraction 

• Berwick Ponds Farm, Rainham, Greater London (Report 916) 2001 Assessment as part of an evaluation of cropmarks on the Thames terrace. 

Monument Maintenance
AS is experienced in monument maintenance and condition survey. 

Examples include: 

• South Mimms Castle, Hertfordshire (for English Heritage) Tree clearance, identification and reinstatement of evaluation trenches Protection and reinstatement of quarried partial face of the Monument  

• Hunsdon House, nr Harlow.  Frost protection, terram sheeting and backfilling of brick moat bridge of 15th century Royal house 
  

Sub-Contracting of Specialists
AS regularly commissions specialist sub-contractors e.g. Palaeopol (Dr Rob Scaife) to undertake projects such as environmental assessment/pollen analysis; Phil Carter, at Verulamium Museum, to conserve artifacts; and Nina Crummy to identify and report on small finds. A list of commonly used specialists is appended to staff profiles (below). All specialists are closely managed by AS as part of the AS resources for the project, and regularly produce satisfactory reports on time and to budget. 

Desk-Based Assessment / Project Design Specification / Evaluation Report / Post-Excavation Assessment / Excavation Summary Report / Excavation Report / Publication Report / EIA / Application for SAM/Listed Building Consent / Interpretation & Publicity Material / Editing / Desk-Top Publishing Desk-Based Assessments 

AS has produced over 300 desk-based assessment/environmental impact assessments. 

Examples include: 

• Land North of Riverside Station, Tilbury, Essex (Report 749) J Murray 2000 Assessment in advance of proposed large industrial development 

• HMS Nelson, Portsmouth (Report 1130) L O'Brien 2002 Assessment in advance of proposed redevelopment of Royal Navy facilities o A5631 Glenhills Way Leicester; Environmental Impact Assessment (Archaeology) (Report 1179). J Grant 2002 - Assessment in advance of route improvements o 

• Birtley Quarry ROMP, County Durham (Report 1371) J Grant 2003 Appraisal in advance of proposals to resume quarrying 

• Mangreen Hall Farm, Norfolk (Report 1340) L O'Brien 2003 Dating of hedgerow boundaries as part of environmental impact assessment 

• Land at Orchard Street, Ipswich (Report 1377) J Grant 2003 Assessment of site close to stratified remains of mid Saxon to post-medieval Ipswich 

Assessments & Publication Reports 
AS has produced over 2000 project design specifications; over 40 post-excavation assessments; and over 30 publication reports

Examples include: 

• 17 Deans Yard, Westminster, assessment & updated project design (Report 757) J Murray 2000. Assessment of deep stratified late Saxon, medieval and post-medieval remains excavated adjacent to Westminster Abbey 

• GSK Site, Ware, assessment & updated project design (Report 1131) B Roberts 2002 Assessment of excavation of part of small Romano-British town including a thick section of Ermine Street and associated roadside structures/burials 

• Land South of Fosters End Drove, East Winch, Norfolk, publication report (Report 1370) L O'Brien 2003 - Publication of Romano-British rural estate, with a large aisled timber barn, pottery kilns and enclosures

• Northern County Offices, March, Cambridgeshire, publication report (Report 1079) L O'Brien 2002 - Publication of prehistoric Bronze Age crouched burials, enclosures and later occupation 

Major post-excavation projects that are in the process of print publication include:

• Cardinal West, Godmanchester (early/mid Saxon settlement and Romano-British activity). To be published in Anglo Saxon Studies in Archaeology & History vol 12

• Station Road, Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire (large enclosed early Saxon farmstead with over 12 grubenhauser, mid Saxon settlement and large inhumation cemetery) To be published in Anglo-Saxon Studies in Archaeology & History vol 13

• Game Farm, Brandon, Suffolk (Breckland Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age occupation site with buildings, sealed by wind-blown sands with post-medieval gun flint industry remains) To be published as an occasional paper by East Anglian Archaeology 

• Viables, Basingstoke (large prehistoric enclosure). Submitted to Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club 
  

Recent Examples of Listed Building/Scheduled Ancient Monument Consent Applications include: 

• Bisham Abbey, Berkshire

• Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey, Essex 

• Bundish Hall, Ongar Road, Fyfield, Essex 

Recent Examples of Interpretative/Publicity Material include: 

• Cedars Park, Stowmarket - Show Home display produced for Crest Nicholson Plc 

• Ware Priory, Chells Manor and the Prehistory of Thorley, Hertfordshire - all published as inexpensive popular publications 
  

AS uses several IT packages, the main ones are listed below, we also use customised Access Data programmes.

• Autocad 2004

• Autosketch

• Adobe Illustrator

• Camedia 

• Corel Draw 

• Microsoft Office

• Paint Shop Pro

• Scan-raster

• GeoSite Office

• Bonn Harris Matrix Compiler