Sutton Hoo - New archaeological dig will use some familiar tools!

In March the National Trust announced that it would be working with BBC’s Time Team on a two-year research project, conducting a new dig at Sutton Hoo, which is known for the Anglo-Saxon ship burial discovered in 1939.

Archaeologists are hoping to use new techniques and tools to build a greater understanding of the site, particularly an Anglo-Saxon cemetery that was discovered in 2000 during the construction of a visitors’ centre.

This is very exciting and gives us the opportunity to think about how the tools and skills that surveyors have can be applied in other industries.?When we think of archaeology, we think of painstaking hours spent delicately brushing the earth to reveal the artefacts beneath. However, before they get to that stage modern archaeologists use a range of surveying tools to find out where they should dig, and exactly what might be below the ground.

Follow the paper trail

For surveyors and archaeologists alike the journey to a new site begins behind a desk. The first thing we do as surveyors is find as many records as we can that refer to that particular parcel of land, and try to build a picture of what might be there. For us those records will come from utility companies, contractors, local councils, and occasionally private companies.

Archaeologists start in a similar way, but they must reach a little wider and further back in time for their records! They will check any extant historical sources that might refer to the region, as well as comparing maps from different period that cover the same area. This can give them an idea of any structures that might have existed in the past. Archaeologists may also look for existing aerial photography, which can show patterns suggesting remains of old buildings or crop marks that might show differences in soil that could indicate a buried structure.

Observation

The next stage for surveyors is to get our feet on the ground on site and have a really good look around. We will methodically comb the site, searching for signs of previous disturbance or evidence of utilities. This could be manholes, drains and vents, scars in tarmac or the ground that point to very focussed digging and a whole host of other features that we have trained our eyes to spot.

Archaeological field surveys begin in exactly the same way, with teams of survey archaeologists walk transects of the site, examining everything that is visible at ground level. They will then document anything that they find, including lithics and ceramic or building remains but also topography, vegetation, and soil character. This works best on ploughed areas where the soil has been turned regularly, and any artifacts move to the top.

However, even with optimal conditions, variety of site and human error mean that fieldwalking will never be the most accurate method.

Using technology to see beneath the surface

With modern technology comes modern methods, and great advances have been made in recent years in the field of geophysical surveying. A geophysical survey is used for subsurface mapping. The instruments can detect archaeological features below the surface when their electrical or magnetic properties differ from their surroundings. Sometimes individual artefacts can be seen fairly clearly, particularly with metal objects.

The technique we use most often is a ground penetrating radar or GPR.

We use a multi-array unit that can pick up metal objects and pipes in the same way that electromagnetic radio detection can but can also help us find anything under the ground that isn’t metallic. This is crucial now as water pipes and gas pipes have been transition to plastic. We also need to keep track of fibre optic cables and a host of other legacy assets that could be left behind from previous developments. Interestingly now, with further technological advances, these results can be interpreted by AI, which can build a 3D image for us mirroring what is present under the surface. While this is a costly exercise, it is helpful to see a full picture before breaking ground. While we have some idea already from the records checking phase, inaccurate filing and missing records means we almost always find more than the records show.

The most common technology used for archaeological purposes are magnetometers, electrical resistance meters, ground penetrating radar and electromagnetic conductivity. ?These methods can give us an excellent, high-resolution picture of what is going on under the surface. ?Crucially for a historically significant site, they can do this without disturbing the ground, potentially causing damage or disruption. At Sutton Hoo, a place that is open to the public, this is probably where they will start so they can get a full, detailed picture of what is going on below ground.

I, for one, will certainly be tuning in to Time Team!

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