Appendix 2: project design specification

(see also main text section 4.8 and section 6.17)

A2.1 Background

A2.1.1 Description of the area/site to be examined:

1. location including grid reference, abbreviated if necessary to protect the site from unauthorised interference
2. map/location plan
3. the period and type of site
4. the condition of the site, and the anticipated state of preservation of its deposits

A2.1.2 Previous work:

1. a short synopsis of previous archaeological work
2. the location of existing site archives, and the extent to which they have been consulted
3. the results of any evaluation fieldwork undertaken

A2.1.3 Reasons for and circumstances of the project:

1. the threat or other justification for carrying out the proposed work
2. the legal status of the site
3. the timing of the project
4. arrangements for access agreed with landowners and site occupiers
5. proposed reinstatement (after excavation)

A2.1.4 Archive deposition:

1. where is it intended that the excavated material and records should be deposited and curated. This must be discussed and agreed with landowners, museum authorities and other relevant bodies
2. any specific recording requirements resulting from the decision on final location of the material
3. any specific environmental or other conditions anticipated to be necessary for the optimum storage of site data

A2.2 Aims and objectives

A2.2.1 Academic or research design:

The following should be described and justified:

1. the contribution the project is expected to make to archaeological knowledge, in the context of the current framework of local, regional, and national research priorities. For all projects (not just those funded by English Heritage) reference may usefully be made to English Heritage funding criteria (1991). In summary the following attributes of a site should be considered:
   • survival/condition
   • period
   • rarity
   • fragility/vulnerability
   • documentation
   • group value
   • potential
2. the potential for integrating a project with existing archaeological research for example funded by the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) or a university
3. opportunities for integrating aspects of a project with related non-archaeological research, for example, if the site is within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
4. likely possibilities for future research which may emerge from the project
5. opportunities for experimental work

A2.2.2 Publication and presentation:

1. the likely scale of the published report (eg monograph, article or note) and the intended place of publication. The relevant editor or editorial committee must be consulted
2. arrangement made for display and public information including possibilities for community involvement or liaison with museums, schools etc

A2.3 Methods statement

A2.3.1

Particular attention should be paid to the relationship between the data which it is anticipated will be gathered, the methodological approach to be applied to these data and the project's objectives (as expressed in section A2.2). The statement should make clear how the methods advocated are those best suited to ensuring that the data collected will fulfil the stated aims of a project. The following should be considered in the formulation of a methods statement:

1. the components of a site which will be investigated and those which will not
2. the different types of data-gathering methods to be used, for example documentary research, survey, photogrammetry, excavation, environmental sampling
3. the recovery and recording strategies which it is intended to employ during fieldwork, for example sampling of selected deposits, on-site flotation and sieving, finds recovery and processing programmes and discard policies. These should be related to the different classes of data anticipated from the site, for example structural data artefacts, environmental material
4. in those cases where a suitable methodology does not appear to exist, consideration should be given to the necessity for developmental work

A2.4 Resources and programming

A2.4.1 Staffing and equipment:

1. details should be given of the structure and size of the project teams and the levels of expertise represented by its component members. The need for any collective or individual pre-fieldwork training should be identified
2. all the tasks identified in the methods statement should be listed and related to the individual members of the project team
3. information should be given of the materials and equipment needed to fulfil the tasks defined in the methods statement (eg the hire of heavy plant, flotation equipment)
4. details, compiled in association with a conservator and relevant museum professional, of materials and equipment needed to ensure that the archaeological data collected (eg records, artefacts, environmental material) are appropriately stored and curated
5. details of premises hire, security provision, health and safety provision

A2.4.2 Timetable:

1. details should be supplied of the projected programme of the project through to completion. This should include fieldwork, assessment, analysis, and dissemination
2. the programme should be expressed on a cascade chart or by some similar form of graphic representation. The cascade chart should show:

A2.4.3 Budget:

1. the costs of undertaking the work programme described should be presented making clear the basis of the calculation, for example salary scales, allowance for inflation and any other adjustments
2. once the tasks directly related to fulfilling the projects objectives have been costed, allowance should be made for other legitimate costs, for example general administrative and managerial tasks, participation in project team meetings, employers liability insurance, compliance with health and safety legislation, monitoring, staff holidays, training etc
3. cashflow and detailed cost projections should be shown in conjunction with the timetable shown on the cascade chart

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