Museum of London - Geoarchaeology

How we can help

Geoarchaeology can help minimise the risk of archaeology at the prospection and desk based assessment stages of a project, as well as provide useful and cost effective solutions during fieldwork and analysis.

The team are experienced in palaeoenvironmental techniques, including the use of our in-house power augers and industry standard software (Rockworks and ARC GIS). We are available to construct predictive deposit models, based on geotechnical site investigation data; advise on approaches to dealing with floodplain archaeology (and Quaternary/Palaeolithic archaeology) where the deposits of interest lie deeply buried within natural deposit sequences; and we can examine, sample and interpret man-made and natural deposits encountered during any form of excavation, both urban and rural.

We use geoarchaeological techniques:

To reconstruct past environments. Geoarchaeology can place archaeological remains into their past landscape context, by interpreting the soils and sediments that make up the archaeological deposits and examining the environmental remains preserved within them

To provide advice on sampling and deposit interpretation. Calling out a geoarchaeologist can avoid excessive sampling and reduces time spent on recording, which can be dealt with quickly and efficiently by an expert

To predict where archaeological deposits will be found. Constructing deposit models to supplement HER information can be valuable where the archaeology is deeply buried, where contamination precludes more conventional techniques and where little previous work has been undertaken in an area

To target excavation on archaeologically productive parts of a site. Constructing site based deposit models can be a cost effective means of reducing excavation requirements

As an alternative to standard archaeological trenches. Where access to the buried sediments is difficult (e.g. where buildings are still in use and on floodplains), augering is likely to be more effective than shallow evaluation trenches in examining the full depth of the archaeological sequence and identifying archaeological potential

To rapidly assess the resources needed to deal with deep and complex features. Augering in advance of targeted excavation can prove a cost effective component in the excavation of palaeochannels and large ditches

As a means of mitigating piled foundations through deep alluvial deposits. Augering can also double up as pile probing in these situations

To answer specific archaeological research questions, for instance mapping past migrations of the Thames tidal head

Geoarchaeology is an integral part of many MOLA projects. However, it can also be carried out entirely independently of other fieldwork and our geoarchaeologists can be contracted to work on stand-alone projects, both commercial and research-based, as well as for other archaeological units.

Read our human environment capability statement