loProtoc

Introduction

Handout 1

Supported by BMAPA, EH and the Crown Estate

for the Reporting of Finds of Archaeological InterestProtocol for Reporting Finds of Archaeological InterestImplementation Service and Awareness Programme

The marine aggregate industry accounts foraround 21 per cent of the sand and gravel usedin England and Wales and the discovery of archaeological finds is thus a relatively commonoccurrence during the course of dredging.As a result, in August 2005 the British MarineAggregate Producers Association (BMAPA), inconjunction with English Heritage, publisheda Protocol for reporting finds of archaeologicalinterest. The Protocol was prepared by WessexArchaeology and has subsequently been adoptedby all members of BMAPA. In October 2009 theImplementation Service welcomed the CrownEstate as a funding partner, alongside BMAPA.Under the Protocol, staff who make a discoveryreport it to a local 'Site Champion' on the vesselor wharf who compiles a preliminary report.The Site Champion passes this report to thecompany's 'Nominated Contact', a singleidentified person within each aggregatecompany.Wessex Archaeology has been commissionedto run the Protocol's Implementation Service.When a Nominated Contact reports a discoverythrough the secure web-based reporting system,Wessex Archaeology's Protocol team are auto-matically alerted to the presence of a new find.This pack contains advice and guidance insupport of the

Protocol ImplementationService

.It should include:Handout 1 – IntroductionHandout 2 – The Reporting ProcessHandout 3 – Metalwork and ConcretionsHandout 4 – Munitions and OrdnanceHandout 5 – Photographing FindsHandout 6 – Conservation and StorageHandout 7 – Timeline

If any of these are missing, or if you would likefurther copies, please contact the ImplementationService team at Wessex Archaeology.

Wessex Archaeology staff investigate everyfind with the help of specialists from aroundthe country to compile reports detailing eachdiscovery. These are sent to English Heritage,BMAPA and the wharf or vessel who discoveredthe find. They are also sent to the Receiverof Wreck, Local Government ArchaeologicalOfficers, Finds Liason Officers, and the Ministryof Defence, as relevant.Wessex Archaeology is also conducting anAwareness Programme comprising visits towharves and vessels, a series of workshops andproducing further copies of the popular DredgedUp newsletter. The aim is to raise awareness of the Protocol amongst dredging company staff and to provide advice on identifying, handling,recording and storing finds. The AwarenessProgramme is funded by English Heritage.

For further information please contact:

Euan McNeill

(Project Manager)Wessex ArchaeologyPortway HouseOld Sarum ParkSalisburySP4 6EBTel:

01722 326867

Fax: 01722 337 562info@wessexarch.co.ukOr visit Wessex Archaeology's Protocol pages on the website:http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/projects/marine/bmapa/index.html

Nominated Contacts

should report discoveries through the secure reporting website:http://net.wessexarch.co.uk/bmapa/login.aspx

loProtoc

The Reporting Process

Handout 2

for the Reporting of Finds of Archaeological InterestFor discoveriesmade at the wharf

A find is made on theprocessing screens, rejectpiles or debris magnets

Wharf Staff:

Inform Site Champion

Site Champion:

Note the occurrenceas soon as possibleand compilePreliminary RecordInform NominatedContact and pass on allavailable information,including a copy of thePreliminary Record andcopies of anyphotographs, drawingsor other recordsArrange for the finds tobe immersed in seawaterin a suitable clean,covered container(see Handout 6-Conservation)

For discoveriesmade on board a vessel

Report to Nominated Contact

A find is made on boardthe dredging vessel,within the cargo ortrapped in dredge gear

Vessel Staff:

Inform Officer on Watch

Officer on Watch:

Avoid making additionaldredging passes in thevicinity

Inform the Master

Master:

Note the occurrence in the vessel's logMark the area on navigational softwareCompile the Preliminary RecordInform the Nominated Contact and pass on all availableinformation, including a copy of the Preliminary Record andcopies of any photographs, drawings or other recordsArrange for any recovered finds to be immersed in seawaterin a suitable clean, covered container(see Handout 6-Conservation)

For discoveriesfound on the seabed

Anomaly indicates thatan object or structurehas been encounteredon the seabed

Officer on Watch:

Avoid making additionaldredging passes in thevicinityArrange for dredging gearto be examined

Inform the Master

Supported by BMAPA, EH and the Crown Estate

loProtoc

Metalwork and Concretions

Handout 3

for the Reporting of Finds of Archaeological InterestWhat is a concretion?Why are concretions important?

Concretions are dense masses of hard materialthat form on the surface of corroding iron orother ferrous metals. As the iron corrodes andconcretion forms, other material from theseabed such as gravel and even boulders canbecome stuck to it. Within the concretion theobject gradually corrodes away, sometimesleaving only a hollow space.Concretions can easily obscure the shape of an object, often making them impossible toidentify. However concretions should never bedismissed as unimportant simply because theyaren't immediately recognisable as X-rays cansometimes reveal the true nature of aconcretion.

Concretion on a metal ring from the HMS Collossus UMA_0123 concretion discovered at Southampton Wharf This x-ray shows two forks that had become covered in concretion