Surprise Finds When Excavating
March 24, 2022
Expertly Maintained Hire Dumpers, Mini Diggers, Skidsteers, Tools & Equipment, Construction Machinery
You would think that discovering ancient artefacts in the course of your working day, was extremely exciting. Well it is, but not for everyone, as unearthing these relics and treasures can be very costly and inconvenient for some. Many of the most significant historical finds, have come to light during construction work. These occurrences are viewed by archaeologists and other specialists as momentous. The Liberty of Southwark regeneration project was underway in 2021, when contractors uncovered a Roman mosaic.
It was the largest found in London for over 50 years, and all construction work had to be postponed. This was so that the painstaking process of recording, assessing and transporting the mosaic could begin. The discovery was described as a “once-in-a-lifetime find”, and meant that the planned homes, shops, restaurants and work spaces were now on hold. There have been other revelations in the vicinity of this buried Roman artefact, so the discovery wasn’t a total shock.
Not surprisingly, HS2 and Crossrail hold the record for the most frequent historic finds, including Plague burial pits, rare statues, and even an entire Roman town. This town was located underneath Northamptonshire, delighting history buffs. Developers however are more likely to be filled with dread at the thought of costly delays. There are things developers can do to reduce the risk of these delays though. Where there is likely to be a find, they can commission a specialist site survey before building work begins.
This is what happened with HS2, who ultimately adjusted a proposed dig area after consulting with the Battlefields Trust and Historic England. There should also be some contingency funding set aside in the case of unforeseen ground conditions. One example of this process saw HS2 avoid disturbing an ancient Roman villa, which remains buried. Once the go ahead is given for an area to be excavated, you can hire a high performance mini digger and dumper from Rhinos Plant Hire.
