YAT 2014/15 Annual Review it here.

Hidden Depths
2014-2015 Annual Review
York Archaeological Trust: Overview
York Archaeological Trust (YAT) is an
educational charity and one of the leading
archaeological organisations in the UK.
Founded in 1972, we have an exceptional
reputation for delivering high quality
research and public engagement.
We have four offices: Glasgow, York,
Sheffield and Nottingham. We also run
five attractions in York: JORVIK Viking
Centre, DIG, Barley Hall, Richard III
Experience and Henry VII Experience.
Employing 200 people, and assisted by
dedicated volunteers, we aim to:
• provide compelling public benefit;
• be innovators, recognised
internationally for creating a wide
appreciation of the past;
• be a great place to work and
volunteer; and
• deliver excellent service
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We are committed to raising our own
funds to sustain our activities. Rather
than relying on core subsidies, we achieve
financial sustainability by demonstrating
our worth.
Our brands reflect our regional heritage
and expertise. The branches of York
Archaeological Trust (York) each operate
under their own names: Northlight
Heritage and Dickson Laboratory
(Glasgow); ArcHeritage (Sheffield); and
Trent & Peak Archaeology (Nottingham).
The multiple award-winning Attractions
Division works under the banner of the
JORVIK Group.
YAT: Quick Overview
A View from the Chair
Terry Suthers, Chairman
As ever, York Archaeological Trust
continues to develop against the backdrop
of a world with an ever increasing pace
of change. In recent years, we have
expanded our horizons to establish four
offices across Britain and have worked
hard to re-balance the Trust’s finances,
such that this year we can report an
operating surplus of £47,532.
Expanding our sphere of operations
geographically, we are now developing
our strategy to achieve increasing levels of
engagement with the public from the East
Midlands to Scotland.
A rare organisation that incorporates
archaeological practice with attractions
management, YAT has an unparalleled
commitment to deliver the social,
cultural and economic benefits of
cultural heritage. As such, we push at the
boundaries to create new opportunities
to enable people to engage with the past,
be that envisaging soundscapes for Viking
journeys; inspiring schoolchildren to
build imaginary castles; or working with
communities to cherish and understand
their local landscape.
This review gives some insight into the
astounding range and diversity of the
Trust’s work and its future direction.
Having read it, I’m sure you will agree with
me that the Trust can be proud of the
achievements of our Chief Executive and
his co-directors, our staff and volunteers,
and the sheer breadth of YAT’s impact on
wider society.
A View from the Chair
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Re-Viewing the Trust
David Jennings, Chief Executive Officer
All people, places and periods have
hidden depths. The idea of discovery and
the benefits that come from exploring the
unknown avenues of history lies at the
core of the Trust’s mission.
We recognise that people and
communities re-create themselves by
reflecting on the past, its interactions
with the present and so determine their
direction for the future.
At the Trust we want everyone to have
access to the rich, complex and deep
web of understanding that the past can
provide and we are constantly looking for
new ways to enable this to happen.
Here we present our work under three
main headings: discovery and explanation;
access, education and inspiration; and
conserving the past.
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In each case we can only scratch the
surface of the range of our work, but hope
to give you new insights into the Trust - to
re-view our work and see our purpose
afresh. This renaissance is as important
to those of us within the Trust as it is to
our external partners, given our need to
adapt, change and reflect on our own 43
years of research and public engagement.
Re-Viewing the Trust
Y A T Projects 2014-2015
1-10
11-30
31-50
51+
Plus 19 overseas projects
YAT Projects
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Y A T Dashboard 2014-2015
Donations
Income
Attractions
Turnover
£67,947
£3.5 million
(£128,070)
(£3.32million)
0.9%
53.5%
Investment
Income
Key
Financial Data
£2,022
Value of Grants, Legacies and Donations
2013-14
£6,546,070
(£4,666)
0.6%
2014-15
TOTAL TURNOVER
£47,532
OPERATING SURPLUS
Archaeology
Turnover
£2.338 million
(£2.359 million)
35.3%
(Numbers in brackets are figures
for financial year 2013-2014)
Retail
Turnover
£637,901
(592,777)
9.7%
445
50.5%
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BREAKDOWN OF EMPLOYEES BY SEX
790
NUMBER OF STAFF EMPLOYED
(FTEs)
49.5%
74 66
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IN
ADMINISTRATION
ARCHAEOLOGISTS
YAT Dashboard
IN ATTRACTIONS
NUMBER OF ATTENDEES AT
ARCHAEOLOGY
DIVISION HOSTED
EVENTS
ATTENDED
150
BOTH HOSTED & ATTENDED
14,700
56
EVENTS
EVENTS
ATTRACTIONS
DIVISION HOSTED
284
EVENTS
Events include Festivals, Open days, Demonstrations,
Participatory activities, Talks, Lectures and Conferences,
Walks and Tours and Community Outreach Events
730,000
EUROPE
81%
VISITS TO YAT
180
WEBSITES IN
AMERICAS
OCEANIA
11%
5%
COUNTRIES
ASIA
AFRICA
1%
2%
TOTAL NUMBER OF VISITORS TO ATTRACTIONS
Number of School
Children Visiting
YAT Attractions
72,877
(14% of visitors)
2014-15: 517,111
YAT Dashboard
TOTAL RECORDED SINCE 1984: 18,554,871
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Discovery and Exploration
Now with offices in Glasgow, Sheffield
and Nottingham, we continue to operate
at the forefront of research: revealing
the deep history of the Trent valley
catchment; making new discoveries at
Stonehenge using the latest visualisation
technology; or working in multidisciplinary international networks to
transform approaches to landscape.
Since 1972, discovery and exploration
have been at the core of our activities.
Originally focussed on the city of
York, we have a spectacular record in
revolutionising understanding of the past,
most notably the Viking Age in Britain.
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From earliest prehistory through to 20thcentury life we explore an immense range
and type of archaeology. We even use our
skills to assist with crime investigations
and convictions. In the pages that follow
we highlight just a few of the 790 projects
that we have worked on in the last year.
Discovery and Exploration
A heavily disturbed corner of the lost All Saints Church
The Haymarket, Peasholme Green, York
The benefits of local expertise: 30 years exploring a medieval cityscape
Since 1986, in five separate excavations,
we have explored the area of the
Haymarket in Peasholme Green,
uncovering All Saints Church (one of York’s
many lost churches), high status Norman
and later medieval buildings and 744
burials.
Now the site of the new Hiscox Building,
the dramatic changes in urban layout
can be appreciated and we are now busy
analysing the evidence for full publication.
Discovery and Exploration
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Forensics - Archaeology and Criminal Investigation
Using our skills for wider social benefit
In the last year, our nationally recognised Dickson Laboratory worked with police
on 17 investigations into sudden or unexplained deaths, with our first participation
in a counter-terrorism case and our expertise contributing to the conviction of two
murderers. Our archaeological skills mean that: we have recognised expertise in the
recovery of human remains; are able to determine the sequence of events; and can
capture evidence that links suspects to crime scenes. We also undertake stomach
contents analysis, a technique that has proved invaluable in helping to reveal the
window of death on numerous occasions.
Recording a body buried beneth the floor of a block of flats
At the cutting edge of forensic analysis, our time-lapsed photographic record of
recovery is a technique pioneered by the Trust. It has significant evidential impact, a
fact recognised at the British Archaeological Awards in 2014 when we were awarded
Highly Commended in the category Archaeological Innovation. In addition, we continue
to teach on five university courses and help to train crime scene managers at the
Scottish Police College.
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Discovery and Exploration
Beauly to Denny Project: Archaeology on one of Europe's
Largest Civil Engineering Projects
Publicly focussed professional services
Since 2012, we have been the
archaeologists for the 220-km long
overhead power line installation from
Beauly, Inverness-shire to Denny, Falkirk.
In this last year, we've conducted
metal detector surveys on the Jacobite
battlefield of Sheriffmuir (1715) and
monitored works along General Wade's
military road over the Corrieyairack Pass
built in 1731.
Meanwhile, the report writing programme
is underway for the entire project
ranging from: a prehistoric timber circle
at Pittentian; prehistoric structures at
Fanellan; a possible post-medieval water
shrine at Loch Freuchie; and shielings at
Drumochter Pass, used seasonally for
transhumance.
In our work we seek to maximise public
benefit. For example, working with our
clients and other contributors, we built
a re-imagining of the late Neolithicearly Bronze Age timber circle excavated
at Pittentian, in the grounds of Crieff
Community Campus.
Pupils and teachers at Crieff High School
were involved in the design; making
3D digital models based on the site's
archaeological plans. The re-imagined
monument was unveiled by the Earl and
Countess of Strathearn in May 2014 and
has already become a cultural asset for
the community.
Discovery and Exploration
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Bronze Age ring-ditch at Langford Quarry
The Trent valley: Developing a Deep Understanding of Landscape
Our Nottingham office’s origins are
inextricably linked with the rich sand and
gravels of the Trent valley, which make it a
key source of aggregates.
The Trent is unusual for an English river,
as it is highly mobile, renowned for
flooding and catastrophic shifts in channel
course (avulsions). These rapid shifts,
leading to the creation and abandonment
of channels, has significant implications
for archaeology and geoarchaeology.
Archaeologically, by contrast with
continuous lateral erosion, there are
improved opportunities for site survival,
including settlements on localised
promontories such as low gravel ‘islands’
protruding above the floodplain.
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Geoarchaeologically, palaeochannels,
gradually stagnating and infilling
backwaters, provide treasure chests
of ancient organic and environmental
remains spanning the Holocene period.
This archaeological potential has not
always been recognised; as late as 1958
an eminent archaeologist wrote of a
“heavily wooded Midland plain, where
pre-Roman occupation of any kind is
likely to have been scanty or transient,
or both....”. However, perceptions have
changed radically over the last fifty years
with the advent of aerial photography
and demonstration of the archaeological
threats posed by aggregates extraction.
Discovery and Exploration
The Trent valley: Developing a Deep Understanding of Landscape
Langford Quarry, Nottinghamshire
One example of our work is at Langford
Quarry on the lower Trent, where we have
been investigating for several decades.
Here, evidence spanning several millennia
gives a comprehensive record of the
landscape’s evolution.
Early activity of itinerant Mesolithic
hunters was followed by Neolithic and
Bronze Age settlement. Nationally
important remains of Neolithic funerary
practices were recovered from a
palaeochannel, comprising several
hundred human and animal bones
including thirteen human skulls and
remains of wild auroch, domestic cattle,
pig, horse, dog, sheep, red and roe deer.
The continued ritual significance of the
palaeochannels is indicated by several,
apparently votive, Bronze Age, Iron Age
and Romano-British metalwork deposits.
Significant woodland clearance took place
in the Neolithic, so that by the Iron Age/
Romano British period there was little tree
coverage, with a number of farmsteads
developing along the terrace edge.
An atypical Romano-British village-like
settlement stretched across the terrace
edge consisting of track-ways and
enclosures, with associated field systems.
The site’s artefact assemblage is one of
the largest and most significant recovered
from a rural Romano-British site in the
Trent valley, providing fresh insights into
everyday rural life, with evidence of:
industry (bone and metalworking); coin
usage; large number of brooches (both
usually missing on rural sites); and the
economic importance of cattle.
Evidence of early Anglo-Saxon settlement
was also recovered. This is highly
significant as few sites of this type have
been excavated in the Trent valley.
During the medieval period most of
the site was covered by field systems of
the nearby village of Langford, forcibly
depopulated in the 16th century to make
way for sheep farming. Now a scheduled
monument, it comprises extensive
earthworks with only a few buildings
surviving including the church.
Work continues on this rich and deep
landscape.
Discovery and Exploration
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A Wider Research Community: Mining the Collection
Our very important collection, built up
over 40 years, attracts interest from
across the globe. Our contacts include
many who are leaders in their field and
we benefit greatly from access to new
ideas and scientific techniques. In return,
we are able to offer a public face for their
ideas and findings.
For example, research has continued on
the decapitated male burials found at
Driffield Terrace, York. The large amount
of deliberate trauma and a bite mark from
a large carnivore led to a hypothesis that
these were the remains of gladiators.
University colleagues from York, Durham,
Reading and Dublin have studied their
A(ncient) DNA to determine genetic
relationships to other populations
and stable isotope analysis to identify
geographic origins; it is clear that some of
these individuals were not local to York.
Research is on-going and will be published
in 2015.
Puncture wound in human pelvis made by the canine
tooth of a large carnivore
Recently, others have used the collection
to research puberty in medieval England;
Viking cod bones to explore impacts on
ecosystems within the North Sea; and
chicken bones to examine the cultural and
scientific perceptions of human-chicken
interactions.
Decapitated burial with skull by the feet and legs bound by iron shackles
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Discovery and Exploration
The one remaining column of the well-preserved east end of the priory church, re-exposed as part of HLF funded Lenton Priory
Project community excavations
NETs: Nottingham’s New Tramway - Archaeology on a £560 million project
A development-led project with a community heart
Over three years, we have explored the 17.5 km of Nottingham’s new tram routes. Ten
major sites uncovered archaeological evidence spanning an 8,000 year period, from
Mesolithic hunter-gatherers through to 19th-century slums.
The project has given unparalleled opportunities to raise the profile of archaeology
in the city and engage the local community. Lenton Priory, which was only known at
ground level by a single column base, was once one of the country’s largest Norman
religious institutions. At this site we carried out community excavations; a schools
programme; public lectures; the erection of interpretation panels; popular publications
and the re-launch of the (once famous) Martinmas Fair.
Now, with our partners, we are developing the project’s next major phase to
regenerate the Abbey Street quarter by creating the Lenton Priory Heritage Hub. Our
vision includes a heritage centre, re-presented remains of the priory church, a heritage
trail and a major training excavation as an on-going public attraction.
Discovery and Exploration
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Access, Inspiration and Education
Living a richer life
As an educational charity, we aim to give
everyone the opportunity to explore the
past; to be inspired by understanding
past lives; and to live life more fully
by appreciating the depth of history.
Our five attractions in York give us the
possibility of reaching out to a diverse
audience and this is supplemented by the
340 events that we organise each year,
in addition to the 150 other events and
lectures arranged by others to which we
contribute.
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We want people to get involved in the
past and this is encouraged through our
well-established volunteer programme
and numerous community-based projects.
Digital media provide other opportunities
to reach a global audience from twitter
feeds and websites through to remoteaccess lessons. Here we showcase just a
few of the initiatives that we have carried
out over the past year.
Access, Inspiration, Education
15 years of
Teaching Archaeology for amateurs and professionals
Our annual training excavation
Archaeology Live! offers a professional
level of training in archaeological
fieldwork.
Since 2001 over 3,000 people have taken
part and in the last decade over 100
individuals have gone on to work in the
profession. We aim to encourage people
of all ages, backgrounds and experience
to get involved with every aspect of an
excavation. In 2014, trainees aged from
14 to 92 came from as far as Australia and
New Zealand.
Recently, a course on post-excavation
skills has been introduced, allowing
trainees to learn how a site report is put
together. By stepping beyond the trench,
these courses allow the less physically
able to get directly involved with
archaeology, and work towards filling a
notable gap in the archaeological training
market.
We firmly believe that archaeology
provides a priceless cultural and
educational resource, one that can be
used to enrich the lives of anyone who
takes part. We aim to be inclusive and
comprehensive in our training, and not
forget that archaeology can be lots of fun!
Access, Inspiration, Education
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Getting Involved
Volunteering at the Trust
This year a core team of 97 volunteers
donated over 2,000 hours of time
to support the Trust and help others
appreciate the past. Their work involved
acting as guides in all of our five
attractions and running information hubs
at our Viking Festival. They also assisted
with all aspects of the collection’s care
and access – processing material from
site, repacking finds, documenting,
devising displays and even helping to
move the store.
Aged from 18 to 80, they include people
who have been valued members of
the team for over a decade, as well as
short-term students and interns. All
are carefully selected to maintain high
professional standards. Our students,
especially, gain invaluable experience
handling material and in return they work
hard and contribute new ideas.
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Access, Inspiration, Education
A Community Exploration
While YAT provided the professional
expertise, the Romans in Ravenglass
project was proposed and promoted by
the local community, with assistance from
the Lake District National Park Authority.
Part of the Roman’s coastal defensive
system, the Roman fort and bath house
at Ravenglass, Cumbria have been
recognised since the late 19th century,
but the prescence of a civilian settlement
(vicus) was until now known only through
chance finds and geophysical survey.
Two seasons of excavation focusing on the
vicus were funded by the Heritage Lottery
Fund, Copeland Community Fund and
Historic England.
Over 150 volunteers took part,
undertaking excavation, geophysical
survey, field walking, and artefact and
environmental processing. Open days,
school visits and public lectures were
provided to the wider community and
volunteers were also trained to act as
guides.
The fieldwork confirmed the vicus’s
probable extent and date, and
demonstrated that there are significant
remains with the potential to contribute
greatly to the study of civilian settlements
in the vicinity of Hadrian’s Wall. Lasting
legacies of the project are provided by a
display of key artefacts and information
in the village, and a new interpretation
board at the bath house.
Access, Inspiration, Education
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Viking Festival
Making a global contribution
Over 150 events made up our nineday festival, which attracted more than
3,500 people and generated more than
£450,000 of economic benefit for York.
We aim to reach as wide an audience
as possible, from our Bloodaxe Book
Challenge for young readers, in which
more than 400 children participated,
through to lectures by international
scholars.
Working with the Converge programme
- York St John University’s arts education
partnership with local mental health
providers - we helped more than 50
people with a variety of mental health
issues to create a highly evocative
soundscape entitled The Vikings’ Brave
New World. At our suggestion, the piece
used the idea of Viking journeys made
without compasses as its inspiration.
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“It emerged that this idea could have
real resonance for people with mental
illness: every day might be like going off
into an unknown world, or being all at sea
without a sense of direction.”
Jane Stockdale, Project Co-ordinator
Other highlights included: performances
of the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf;
the Viking Strongman competition; the
Ultimate Viking Banquet and Wedding
Feast; and, of course, the Festival Finale
at the Eye of York.
Access, Inspiration, Education
Sheffield’s Festival of the Mind: Imaginary Castles
Creative engagement with the past
In 2014, we participated in Sheffield’s
Festival of the Mind. The Imaginary
Castles exhibition was conceived by us in
collaboration with Sheffield University’s
Department of Archaeology and the
digital arts organisation Lovebytes. It
aimed to promote public understanding
of Sheffield’s castle, demolished after
the English Civil War, which is currently
the focus of a proposed city-centre
regeneration scheme.
We laser-scanned each model to create
accurate 3D digital components. These
were used to create a whole 3D model
of the castle, incorporating the ideas
of all the school children. The rather
futuristic and funky 3D model was then
animated and a fantastic soundtrack was
commissioned. The exhibition of the final
animation along with the original models
and drawings was a great success.
Two local primary schools participated in
the project, with archaeologists visiting
them to explain the castle’s archaeology
and history. The children were encouraged
to build models and make drawings
of imaginary castles; the idea was to
stimulate creativity rather than to
reproduce commonplace ideas of a ‘real’
castle.
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Access, Inspiration, Education
Digging it Digital!
Social Media and Web
As with any organisation, we recognise the
importance of digital media as a powerful
tool that allows us to reach out to a global
audience and provide free access to the
past.
Last year saw more than 730,000 visitors
to our websites from more than 180
countries. As might be expected UK
visitors were our largest audience, but
18 countries each recorded more than a
thousand visitors.
In addition, our social media presence
continues to grow across multiple
platforms with more than 8,500 twitter
followers for our JORVIK account and over
1,100 following us in Scotland (Northlight
Heritage). Likewise our Facebook pages
have more than 10,000 likes and we have
over 550 followers on Pinterest. This year
also saw the production of a number of
mobile apps, like Coppergate Alive and
Nottingham caves, allowing access to
heritage on the move.
We provided lots of new content with
the launch of four new websites: our
main YAT site; the Jorvik Group website;
Richard III and Henry VII Experiences; and
a site for our medieval festival. Overall
we are maintaining 11 main websites
to represent our activities, while also
creating and maintaining websites/ blogs
for individual projects like Archaeology
Live!, the York Community Stadium or our
Glorious Gardens project in Scotland.
Access, Inspiration, Education
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Scottish Communities and Heritage
Discovering a past: building a future
In Scotland we have commenced two ambitious and substantial heritage programmes,
both the result of several years of planning, fundraising and partnership-building.
These, along with other projects, are steadily building our reputation in Scotland for
developing innovative ways to draw together education, arts and heritage and help
different communities engage with the past.
CAVLP Project-Launch: re-creating 18th-century survey techniques
The Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership (CAVLP)
A broad-based consortium of local groups, NGOs, local government and
government agencies, has welcomed us as a delivery partner, with YAT having
secured initial funding of around £250,000 for the next three years. We
will help deliver a range of projects that bring the heritage of these valleys
to wider audiences, deliver hands-on learning and create legacies such as
heritage trails and exhibitions.
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Access, Inspiration, Education
Digging In
World War I trench reconstructions for education and experiment will involve
reconstructing Allied and German trench systems in Pollok Country Park, Glasgow,
which is home to the Burrell Collection and attracts around two million visitors
per year. We worked with partner organisations to develop the project and
secure an award of £99,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £7,500 from the
Robertson Trust. Other funding applications are in progress. Once reconstructed,
the trenches will serve as a hub for active, hands-on learning about soldiers’
experiences on the Western Front and the impact of the war on the Home Front.
The trenches will host regular school visits and living history events for the public
until November 2018 and will also provide online teaching resources.
Access, Inspiration, Education
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Jorvik Viking Centre
Welcoming 18 million people into the Viking world
JORVIK celebrated its 30th birthday on
14th April 2014. The birthday party took
place in Coppergate and provided visitors
with cake, games, and activities plus a
book signing by John Sunderland, one of
the original designers of the Viking Centre.
Birthday celebrations continued with a
new exhibition in Coppergate Square that
ran throughout the summer holidays. This
free exhibition highlighted the objects
discovered during the 1970’s excavations
and included interactive elements,
handling presentations, object displays, a
mini DIG area and a crafting zone.
To enhance the exhibition, a new
interactive smart phone trail was installed
around the whole of Coppergate, where
users were able to access information,
images and videos about the objects that
our archaeologists discovered beneath
their feet.
Finally, we carried out a major year-long
campaign on social media to celebrate
JORVIK’s 30th year: #JORVIK30. This
focused on the public’s memory of
JORVIK’s creation and the 30 years since
it opened its doors. Content was shared
from our archives, with images of concept
drawings, the building of the attraction
and the various re-imaginings of the
centre.
As JORVIK enters its fourth decade,
it remains an iconic archaeological
experience that can still delight, surprise
and educate.
Access, Inspiration, Education
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York in the Medieval World
Barley Hall, Richard III and Henry VII Experiences
New exhibitions opened at the Richard
III Experience at Monk Bar and Henry VII
Experience at Micklegate Bar just before
Easter 2014 to enthusiastic acclaim. At
the Richard III Experience we offer the
opportunity to find out about this much
maligned monarch and, in particular, his
impact on York during his short reign.
In Easter 2015, we added new exhibits
based on the discoveries of the ‘King in
the car park’ by Philippa Langley. This
display used artefacts on loan from the
Towton battlefield, including architectural
fragments from the recently-discovered
unfinished chapel commissioned by
Richard III to commemorate the battle.
New Richard III exhibition, Monk Bar, York
The two attractions complement each
other, encouraging visitors to walk along
the medieval city walls that link them.
Both can be visited with a joint ticket
or our new Medieval Pass, which also
includes Barley Hall: the winner of the
Group Travel Awards ‘Little Treasures of
Britain’ award 2014.
Henry VII Experience, Micklegate Bar, York
The Henry VII Experience takes up the
story from where Richard III’s story ends
at the Battle of Bosworth. The exhibition
explores York in the time of Henry VII, as
well as examining his life and influence on
the city.
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This year Barley Hall received grant
funding from the Museums Development
Fund Yorkshire to enhance access at
the Hall creating a new ‘hub’ with more
medieval finds being displayed; a Find of
the Month; a number of 3D visualizations;
and a new handling collection.
Access, Inspiration, Education
Conserving the Past
Making a global contribution
Managing heritage sustainably is an
ever-increasing challenge in the 21st
century. YAT has exceptional credentials
in this field, working in both the frontline of professional services and running
heritage attractions, where the pressures
of managing change in an ever-developing
world and mass tourism can have highly
damaging impacts on cultural heritage.
Developed over 40 years of practice, we
have internationally-recognised expertise
that makes contributions across the
globe, from scientific conservation of
waterlogged wood through to digital
conservation, heritage consultancy and
attractions/destinations management.
In addition, we help to sustain and
develop the cultural heritage profession
- only with well-qualified and highly
motivated professionals can we ensure
that future generations will have the
similar levels of access to the past as we
enjoy today.
Some of the ways that we seek to ensure
that the past is conserved for all are
explored in the following case-studies.
Conserving the Past
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Unconventional Approaches to Conventions:
Exploring Landscapes
A key part of our strategy is to promote
landscape, as defined by the European
Landscape Convention, as a valuable
concept through which to develop activity,
drawing on heritage skills, that will create
public benefit in specific locations.
In particular, our values of research
and education are critical in forging
stronger communities, assisting with
place making and enhancing well being,
all through sustainable approaches that
balance benefits in social, economic,
environmental and cultural terms. We
believe the latter, in particular the cultural
heritage dimension, has been seriously
undervalued. We aim to help to redress
that imbalance by promoting cooperative
working; inter- and trans- disciplinary
approaches; and sustainable and actionoriented educational and research activity.
Below: Textile screen, part of the Weaving Truth with Trust
Project, Govan shown at the Scottish Parliament, before its
installation in Govan’s Old Church
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Aside from the projects that we have
already developed, we have been
working at a strategic level, forging links
with professional colleagues, policy
makers and decision takers. In addition,
to participation/organising sessions at
national and international conferences in
Glasgow, Brussels, and Istanbul, we were
invited to present our work as a model of
good practice in successfully integrating
the arts in business, at an event hosted at
the Scottish Parliament and sponsored by
the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Much of the remainder of the year was
taken up with two landscape-inspired
initiatives. In northern Greece, we have
been working with partners to trial the
development of an educative, capacitybuilding tool working in conjunction with
the Aoos/ Vyosa Eco-Museum. We also
continue to build on our long-standing
connections with Govan, providing
heritage expertise in the context of
researching, celebrating and restoring
Showpeople culture in Scotland.
Conserving the Past
Sustaining the Profession
This year saw the completion of a twoyear EU funded project to gain insight
into the profile of the archaeological
profession across Europe. Acting as the
lead partner, we were responsible for the
co-ordination of 23 organisations that
undertook national surveys across 21
countries, which were then synthesized
into a final European-wide overview.
More than
£1 billion
spent on
archaeology
each year
across
Europe
This survey can be compared to a previous
survey in 2006-8 and has been undertaken
at a crucial time when professional
archaeology in Europe is under
considerable stress, following the impact
of the global economic crisis. The data
gathered from this pan-European project
enables us to: understand the profile of
the labour market; estimate the size of
the ‘archaeological economy’ in Europe;
recognise the skills requirements within
the sector; design appropriate vocational
training; assist with business planning;
and improve organisational performance.
For policy makers at national and
international levels, the study provides
the most definitive data to inform longerterm decision-making to ensure that as a
continent, Europe can sustain a cultural
heritage profession that is fit for the 21st
century.
94%
an estimated
33,000
of
archaeologists
are
archaeologists
work across
Europe
GRADUATES
Conserving the Past
30
Digital Conservation and Interpretation
Pompeii, Italy
We undertook laser scan surveys of several areas of
this World Heritage Site, as part of the Great Pompeii
Project, which is developing an urgent programme of
conservation, maintenance and restoration to deal with
the enormous conservation challenges that face a site
of this scale, sensitivity and complexity. The recording
comprised laser scanning of all the exposed (but
unexcavated) remains on the side of the lava cliff, as
well as some excavated areas closed to the public due to
structural instability. The laser scan allowed very detailed
information to be captured, both to record the remains
in their current state and to assist in the identification of
future conservation requirements, such as stabilisation of
the lava cliff and consolidation of standing remains. The
project is ongoing.
Wemyss Caves
Wemyss Caves, Scotland
At the Wemyss Caves, Fife, a group of scheduled coastal caves contain a remarkable
assemblage of early Christian, Pictish and medieval carvings. We completed 3D
laser scanning of the caves and coastline, which are under threat from erosion,
instability and vandalism, made the results available on the web as a threedimensional model and developed a Conservation Management Plan to manage
future change.
Laser scan of part of the
lava cliff, Pompeii
Managing climate change
Developing methodologies for World Heritage Sites
This project focused upon the threats posed by climate change to the Derwent Valley
Mills World Heritage Site (DVMWHS). Climate change poses significant challenges
for heritage management, especially in climatically sensitive landscapes like valleys
and in industrial landscapes, where the legacy of toxic contaminants trapped in soils
exacerbates the effects of erosion and denudation.
Information on the valley’s geomorphological evolution over the last 1,000 years was
integrated with archaeological, documentary and geochemical records to assess:
landscape evolution in the context of the climatic changes of the Medieval Warm
Period and Little Ice Age; the impact of changes in river behaviour upon preserved
archaeological remains; and the chemical legacy of past industrial activities.
We also utilised national climate change data to predict future river behaviour using
cutting edge computer modelling. Comparison of this model’s results with the spatial
distribution of World Heritage Site assets highlights locations at particular risk from
future environmental change.
This has provided the basis for
a mitigation strategy that will
assist future development of the
DVMWHS Management Framework. The results have been
widely disseminated, and have
raised considerable interest in
both in Britain and Europe. We
are currently developing new initiatives to investigate further the
impact of environmental change
upon heritage resources, both in
Britain and with respect to World
Heritage Sites across the globe.
LiDAR(airborne laser scanning) data
south and west of Little Eaton in the
Derbyshire Derwent Valley (source data
©Environment Agency)
33
Conserving the Past
Architectural Conservation
in Practice
Re-building a sense of place
Working with the land owners, we
initiated a series of projects this year to
promote the farmhouse to a range of
audiences. Interpretation panels were
developed, plus a trail leaflet, which was
subsequently made available throughout
the area to promote the historic
landscape.
On 13th July 2015 a medieval themed
open day was held as part of the National
Archaeology Festival. This community
event aimed to promote the farmhouse
and the work taking place there. It was
preceded by a special launch evening
attended by over 60 funders and
sponsors.
In 2012-13 we helped fund the
conservation of a 17th-century cruckframed farmhouse in Octon on the
Yorkshire Wolds. One of only four
examples with complete cruck trusses
in the East Riding, the building was in a
poor state of repair and we considered
that its conservation would both secure
the building’s future and permit us to
generate interest in the region’s heritage.
The Year 5 and 6 class of Wold Newton
Foundation School piloted a new
summer school offer at Octon. Following
preparatory classroom sessions, the
children had a site visit led by YAT’s
Community Archaeologist, and took part
in archaeology-themed activities in and
around the farmhouse, which sits within a
shrunken medieval village. Feedback from
their visits has been used to inform our
schools’ learning programme in the East
Riding, which offers a range of exciting
options for field trips on prehistoric and
medieval themes.
Conserving the Past
34
Long-Term Management of Cultural Heritage
Conservation Management Plans
The management of an archaeological site or landscape requires a clear understanding
of its character, history and condition, to allow its particular significance to be
established. Conservation Management Plans (CMP) establish this significance and
identify the actions and key principles to secure its ongoing survival and relevance. A
CMP can be prepared for a single site or for a larger landscape and form an important
aspect of a strategic approach to cultural heritage management that we routinely
undertake.
Kedleston Hall
At Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire, we
undertook landscape survey and
interpretation of LiDAR images and
aerial photographs to understand the
park’s current condition. One of the
aims identified by the CMP was the
restitution of the 18th-century formal
gardens, and follow-on work included
surveys within the current pleasure
gardens, followed by trial trenches to
investigate the extent of survival of
buried garden features associated with
the earlier layout.
Kedleston Hall and trial trench
Kedleston Hall laser scan
35
Conserving the Past
Carl Wark laser scan
Carl Wark
At Carl Wark, Derbyshire, we prepared a CMP for a small hillfort of uncertain date.
The site, a Scheduled Monument, is popular with walkers and climbers, and we
had to address the sometimes conflicting requirements of archaeology, public
leisure pursuits and nature conservation. We arranged an aerial photographic
survey by a drone helicopter, developing a 3D model of the hillfort and capturing
very high resolution data. The model and photographs allow the extent of erosion
and any loss of stone to be easily monitored by National Trust rangers.
Carl Wark aerial view
Conserving the Past
36
Swash Channel Wreck Conservation
The wreck of a 17th-century Dutch
vessel off Poole Harbour, Dorset was
first discovered in 1990 but not until
2006 was it investigated further by
a team of maritime archaeologists
from Bournemouth University. They
established that almost all of the port
side of a carvel-constructed ship survived,
while the presence of several large guns
suggested it was a lightly-armed merchant
vessel. The ship was also adorned with
several Baroque-style carvings including
two “mermen” and several cherubs. The
9m long rudder was topped off with a
moustached male head wearing a laurel
wreath.
Recovered artefacts include personal
items such as pewter flagons, spoons,
carpenters’ tools and an eyeglass, still
with the glass lens intact. The eyeglass is
a remarkable discovery, as it was hidden
in a mass of marine concretion and is
probably one of the earliest examples
from an archaeological excavation.
Almost all of the artefacts, the mermen
and the cherubs are now conserved. The
rudder will need a long period of freezedrying before it is returned to Poole
Museum. The next phase will be the
conservation of the 50+ timbers making
up the bowcastle, as well as one of the
two-tonne cast iron cannons.
Pulley block sitting on the seabed ©Bournemouth University
37
Conserving the Past
Pewter flagon
embedded in concretion
Conserving the Past
38
York Archaeological Resource Centre
Unlocking the potential of the archives
This year we completed the consolidation
of our artefactual archive into our new
store in Huntington, York accumulated
from our 43 years of investigation into
the city of York. Launching this building as
the York Archaeological Resource Centre,
we intend to open the collection to
wider public access and further promote
awareness of an archaeological archive
second only to London. The Centre has
a new research space for those studying
the collection and we commenced public
tours of the building in Spring 2015.
As ever with effective collections
management, there is a huge amount
of work going on constantly behind
the scenes and we are assisted by a
dedicated team of volunteers that help
to both move, re-pack and organise the
collection. To cope with the ever-growing
size of archaeological collections, we have
implemented a retention strategy for
both animal bone and ceramic building
material. In the future we will be applying
similar strategies to other artefact
categories once a rigorous methodology is
in place.
39
Another plan launched this year is
to upgrade the management of our
paper, mapping, photographic and
digital records to allow for more rapid
and remote access. Furthermore,
the Arts Council England Resilience
Programme provided a grant of £69,290
to undertake a series of discrete projects
using the collection to embed further
organisational resilience while creating
greater access, training, and crossdepartmental working opportunities.
Conserving the Past
With a Little Help from our Friends
The Importance of Partnering
The Trust only achieves its high levels
of impact by sharing skills and engaging
openly with a full range of partners.
Many of the projects covered in this
review have only been achieved by
working in multi-agency networks.
At the level of international
collaborations, we have completed the
major study of the archaeologists of
Europe. Now we are commencing a new
European project, Follow the Vikings,
managed by the Destination Viking
Association.
This is a European-wide body of which we
are a Board member. A four-year project
with 25 partners across 13 countries, it
aims to raise the visibility of Europe’s
Viking Cultural Route. Elsewhere, we are
developing international projects with
university partners in Rome, Glasgow, Hull
and London.
We have strong links with the universities,
local governments and community groups
in each of the cities where our offices
are located and a wide set of links with
academic institutions across the UK,
including expert government agencies like
the British Geological Survey.
The range of our collaborations is very
wide. For example in York, we are the
lead partner in Vespertine; a two-year
programme to bring arts and non-arts
based organisations together in a series of
early evening events in the city. Likewise,
in 2014 we participated in Festivals of
Ideas in Sheffield and York and played a
major role in the Illuminating York Festival.
The only limits to our collaborative
capacity are the number of hours in the
day!
Importance of Partnering
40
Future Plans
As ever, we have ambitious plans for our
next phase of development and, as you
might expect, we are building on our
core values. Having invested in growth
during the recession by taking on offices
in Glasgow, Sheffield and Nottingham,
we now want to deliver the unique
combination that has been fundamental
to our activities for more than 30 years:
attractions and events management
expertise with high quality archaeological
research.
In each of our office locations this may
mean something different. For example,
in Nottingham we have been exploring
how we might develop DIG Nottingham
on a similar model to our award-winning
attraction in York, to provide educational
opportunities for the schoolchildren
of Nottinghamshire. In Sheffield we
are focussed on developing large-scale
community projects while also building
our outstanding digital heritage team.
41
In Glasgow, we are pushing at the
boundaries of archaeology as a socially
embedded activity that delivers a
wide spectrum of social, cultural,
environmental and economic benefits.
In York, we want to re-ignite interest
in large-scale research into the city: so
much remains unknown and we now
have unparalleled expertise that will
permit us to develop projects that have
public participation at their heart. At the
same time, we want to fully exploit the
incredible wealth of our archives and
allow everyone to appreciate the rich past
of the city, while continuing to build on
the excellence of our attractions.
As government funding for heritage
comes under increasing pressure, it is
more vital than ever that the Trust plays
its role in sustaining and increasing the
cultural wealth of society.
Future Plans
Support Us
Your support is paramount in enabling York Archaeological Trust to fulfil its mission of
investigating the past for the benefit of present communities and future generations.
As we are an independent educational charity we rely on the vital life support of our
visitors, sponsors, volunteers and members to promote excellence in archaeological
discovery, research, conservation and curation as well as presentation, education and
dissemination.
There are many ways to support us including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Buying an admission ticket and visiting our attractions
Giving a donation
Leaving a legacy
Volunteering
Becoming a Corporate Partner
Providing corporate sponsorship
Please consider supporting York Archaeological Trust to ensure we can continue to go
from strength to strength.
For further information about volunteering please contact Helen Harris
Phone: 01904 543419
Email: [email protected]
For all other information about supporting the Trust please contact Anna Stewart
Phone 01904 663035
Email: [email protected]
A Company Limited by Guarantee without share capital registered in England (No.
1430801). A Registered Charity in England & Wales (No. 509060) and Scotland
(SCO42846).
Support Us
42
Our Thanks
As Chairman I have always been
enormously impressed by the dedication,
knowledge and expertise of our staff,
volunteers and supporters. None of our
work could be done without the support
of clients, visitors, volunteers, partners,
grant-funding bodies and the sheer hard
work of the staff. As the Chairman of the
Board it’s my pleasure to thank everyone
that enables us to put archaeology into
the lives of so many each year.
First, I thank our advisory bodies, the
General Advisory Council and Barley Hall
Advisory Committee, for their collective
expertise and support.
Secondly, I want to acknowledge the
Friends of York Archaeological Trust,
whose support for our activities continues
undaunted.
I am extremely grateful to our dedicated
volunteer team that works across the
Trust enriching our charitable delivery. I
also want to thank all of our visitors. Their
gift-aid makes a significant difference
to our abilities to extend our charitable
reach.
43
As we provide professional services to a
large number of clients it is not possible
to thank you all individually but I do want
to thank you collectively. By choosing YAT
you enable us to achieve a far greater
level of public benefit.
It is also important to mention grantgiving bodies that have provided major
grants including the Heritage Lottery
Fund, Natural England, Historic England,
Historic Scotland, Renewable Energy Fund
(managed by South Lanarkshire Council)
Arts Council England, and the European
Commission. We have also received
smaller grants from a wide range of other
bodies. In addition, I want to thank First
TransPennine Express, who this year
sponsored our Viking Festival.
Finally, I thank our staff whose expertise,
dedication and sheer enthusiasm are an
inspiration.
Our Thanks
Members of the Trust
His Grace The Archbishop Of York
The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor Of York
Dr P V Addyman CBE
Dr D Atkinson
Ms P Baker
Ms M Baldwin
Professor J Beckett
Mrs V E Black
Mr S A J Bradley FSA
Professor D Brothwell
Cllr David Chance
Sir R U Cooke
Professor J D Currey
Mrs A Deller
Professor Emeritus J Dickson
Dr K H M Dixon CBE
Dr P W Dixon FSA
Mr I Drake
Professor A Fitter
Mr G C F Forster
Mr M Galloway
Councillor J Galvin
Councillor H Garnett
Dr Kate Giles
Mr M Gooddie FCIPD, FRSA
Mr Conal R Gregory
Professor J Grenville FSA
Councillor Julie Gunnell
Mrs C Hammond
Mr P Hammond
Mr J B Hampshire
Ms L Hampson
Dr J M Hargreaves MBE
The Baroness Harris of Richmond
Mrs E Hartley FSA
Mr E K Hayton
Ms S E Hebron
Mr D Henson
Professor C Heron
Dr M Heyworth FSA MCIfA MBE
Mr M C Holyoak
Mr K Hyman
Mrs K Hyman
Miss M G Ingle
Professor J Jesch
Mrs A Johnson
Mr K Johnston
Dr R F J Jones FSA
Mr B Joyce
Dr H K Kenward
Mr R Kilburn
Mr Graham Lee
Professor P Lock
Mr D Martin
Dr S Mays
Dr H Mytum FSA
Reverend Jane Nattrass
Mr J R Nursey
Professor T P O’Connor FZS
Mr A Owen
Professor D M Palliser FSA
Mr D Phillips FSA
Dr K Pretty FSA
The Lord Redesdale
Professor S Rees Jones
Professor J Richards
Professor D W Rollason
Professor E Royle
Mr J Scott
Dr W J Sheils
Mr J A Spriggs
Professor P Stone OBE
Mr J C Temple
Dr N J Tringham
The Rev Canon Dr J Toy FSA
Mr P Vaughan DL
Mr M P P Viner FRSA
Professor John S. F. Walker
Councillor Brian Watson
Dr I N Wood FRHistS FSA
Mr B Woolley
Members of the Trust
44
Organisational Structure
President
Chief Financial Officer
Board Of Trustees
Director Of Attractions
The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor Of York
Gill Gimes
Sarah Maltby
Mr Terry Suthers MBE, DL, FMA, FRSA
Mr G A Wilford MBE, MICE
Mrs H M Dobson ACA
Professor S T Driscoll
Mr A C Hall MSB
Ms Elizabeth Heaps
Ms J Hunter
Professor R Morris OBE FSA
Dr D Neave FSA
Mr Richard Watson
General Advisory Council
Mr D Martin
Mrs A Deller
Cllr J Galvin
Cllr H Garnett
Mr J B Hampshire
Mr E K Hayton
Dr D Henson
Mr B Joyce
Mr D Phillips
Professor S Rees Jones
Mr J Spriggs
Mr B Woolley
Chief Executive Officer
David Jennings FSA MCIfA
Volunteers
Julie Agar
Rose Agar
Jonathan Auty
David Barratt
Avril Bartlett
Jessica Bates
Jean Baxter
Michael Bedford
Arabelle Bennett
Betty Bentley
Rachael Bold
Noémie Boudreault
Kate Bowley
Megan Burton
Eve Caves Coates
Emma Chapman
Rita Chapman
Sue Cooke
Emily Coulthard
Simon Craft
Jo Crawford
Isobel Curwen
Graham Cutler
Liddy Dalesman
Dave Dearlove
45
Ellen Denison
Bethany Dimond
Alexandra Drossinakis
Constance Durgeat
Irene Durrant
Liz Eastlake
Samira Fernandes
Sue Fisher
Amanda Flynn
Benedict Frankish
Rosemary Freeman
Giulia Gallo
Kay Gammie
Sandra Garside-Neville
Sharon Gilpin
Helen Giovine
Victoria Gladwin
Max Greeves
Laura Griffin
Richard Hanage
Sophie Hearn
Catherine Hodgson
Helen Houghton
Fiona Hyde
Sylvia Jewels
Rachel Kennedy
Hannah King
Ann Kirk
Doreen Leach
Ann Major
David Mennear
Bethany Nash
George Nuth
Eleanor O’flynn
Norma Oldfield
Jagod Olender
Jean Oliver
Linda Oxtoby
Wendy Phillips
Moria Pillmoor
Grace Purdy
Margaret Ramsbottom
Rebecca Robson
Allyssa Roeske
Elena Saggers
Ottilie Scanlon
Augustus Shaw
Kirsty Skitt
Ann Smith
Matthew Smithson-Shaw
Organisational Structure
Andrea Sotos
Aubrey Steingraber
Jean Stockley
Sarah-Jane Strong
Nicholas Thomas
Tammy Thorpe
Jenna Tinning
Jeannette Tomlinson
Sally Toon
Nienke Van Doorn
Sylvia Voisk
Michelle Wagstaff
Charlotte Warrington
Jess Watters
Dorothea Webb
Katie Widdowson
Bethany Williams
Katie Wilson
Rachel Winter
Chris Wood
Carrie Wright
Richard Wright
Trustees
Graham Wilford, Deputy
Chair/Honorary Treasurer
Charles Hall
Helen Dobson
Prof. Richard Morris
David Neave
Elizabeth Heaps
Jean Hunter
Terry Suthers, Chairman
Prof. Stephen Driscoll
Richard Watson
Trustees
46
Registered Office: 47 Aldwark, York, YO10 7BX
A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England No. 1430801
A registered Charity in England & Wales (No. 509060) and Scotland (No. SCO42846)
ISBN 978-1 874454 99 1