Old Park Village, Pinhoe, Devon; Environmental Impact Assessment and Statement:

In September 2009, Nexus Heritage undertook the archaeological component of an Environmental Statement for an area of land to the north of Pinhoe, Devon for Bell Cornwell Environmental.  The report described the assessment methodology; including legislation and policies and published guidance; the baseline conditions currently existing at the site and surroundings; the likely significant environmental effects; the mitigation measures required to prevent, reduce or offset any significant adverse effects; and the likely residual effects after these measures have been employed.

Documentary and archaeological evidence revealed that the farmstead present on the site was built in the 14th or 15th century and was one of a number of isolated and dispersed medieval farmsteads. Archaeological deposits associated with medieval farmstead were identified as ridge and furrow, outbuildings, banks and ditches, enclosures, ancient woodland and field boundaries.  The site also formerly contained a Bronze Age Hoard, comprising armrings and palstaves.  During World War II, an aircraft crashed on the site and all six crew members were killed.  The site is a Protected Place, under the terms of the Military Remains Act 1986 and negotiations were undertaken by Nexus Heritage to assess what impact of the proposed development would have upon the ‘war grave’.

Planning permission was sought from East Devon Council for development of the land as a mixed-use scheme including residential, school, village centre and retail elements, a park-and-ride site, open space and transport infrastructure. Devon County Council Historic Environment Service advised that any consent granted should be conditional on a programme of archaeological work, consisting of a geophysical survey, an archaeological evaluation and a ‘strip, map and record’, being undertaken. A written scheme of investigation for each phase was issued by Nexus Heritage to Devon County Council and was approved.

The geophysical survey (detailed magnetometer survey) was carried out over an area of c. 15ha by Stratascan on behalf of Nexus Heritage.  It identified several areas of high potential, which were interpreted to represent a later prehistoric settlement and agricultural remains.

In spring 2010 an archaeological evaluation, consisting of 63 trenches, was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology on behalf of Nexus Heritage. The evaluation identified a number of archaeological features, the earliest of which was a Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age pit and ditch. A ring-ditch, with a projected internal diameter of 15m was also identified, in addition to several steep sided and a flat based ditches and a north-west/south-east orientated field system, both dating to the Roman period.   Evidence relating to agricultural activity and land division from the medieval and post-medieval periods was also identified across the site.  The programme of ‘strip, map and record’ is due to take place in mid-2011.

Planning permission was sought from East Devon Council for development of the land as a mixed-use scheme including residential, school, village centre and retail elements, a park-and-ride site, open space and transport infrastructure. Devon County Council Historic Environment Service advised that any consent granted should be conditional on a programme of archaeological work, consisting of a geophysical survey, an archaeological evaluation and a ‘strip, map and record’, being undertaken. A written scheme of investigation for each phase was issued by Nexus Heritage to Devon County Council and was approved.   

The geophysical survey (detailed magnetometer survey) was carried out over an area of c. 15ha by Stratascan on behalf of Nexus Heritage.  It identified several areas of high potential, which were interpreted to represent a later prehistoric settlement and agricultural remains.

In spring 2010 an archaeological evaluation, consisting of 63 trenches, was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology on behalf of Nexus Heritage. The evaluation identified a number of archaeological features, the earliest of which was a Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age pit and ditch. A ring-ditch, with a projected internal diameter of 15m was also identified, in addition to several steep sided and a flat based ditches and a north-west/south-east orientated field system, both dating to the Roman period.   Evidence relating to agricultural activity and land division from the medieval and post-medieval periods was also identified across the site.  The programme of ‘strip, map and record’ is due to take place in mid-2011. 

Marampa Mine archaeological and cultural heritage surveys, Sierra Leone

Nexus Heritage has been commissioned by to undertake the cultural heritage components of environmental and social impact assessments in advance of iron ore mining and transport/infrastructure improvements in Sierra Leone. Nexus is working with the Institut Fondamental de Afrique Noir, part of the University of Dakar. The mining concession is located at Lunsar  in the Port Loko district and is linked to the coast at Port Pepel by railway, and encompasses an area of several thousand hectares. The heritage assessment includes Tangible Heritage (archaeology and historic buildings) as well as Intangible Heritage (secret societies, music, dance, crafts, mythology etc) by means of field survey and consultation with public bodies, local village groups and key individuals.

Kiaka Reconnaissance archaeological and cultural heritage surveys, Burkino Faso

Nexus Heritage has been commissioned by to undertake the cultural heritage components of environmental and social impact assessments in advance of gold mining in Burkino Faso, in West Africa. Nexus is working with the Institut Fondamental de Afrique Noir, part of the University of Dakar. The mining concession is located in Gogo Province of Zoundweogo, Centre-sud region of Burkina Faso. The heritage assessment includes Tangible Heritage (archaeology and historic buildings) as well as Intangible Heritage (secret societies, music, dance, crafts, mythology etc) by means of field survey and consultation with public bodies, local village groups and key individuals.

Sabodala Cultural Heritage Project Environmental Impact Assessment

In 2008, the Sabodala Cultural Heritage Project was retained by SRK Consulting to perform cultural resources studies for an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Sabodala Gold Mine. The mining concession covers 230 km2 in the upper Senegal River basin of eastern Senegal. Over the next several years, the SCHP team - consisting of  Nexus Heritage from the United Kingdom, the Institut Fondamental d’Afrique Noire (IFAN), based in Dakar, Senegal, and our partner company SRI - completed numerous tasks, including:

Background and Archival Research

Predictive Model of Surface and Subsurface Archaeological Sites

Ethnographic Survey of Traditional Tangible and Intangible Cultural Resources

Reconnaissance Archaeological Survey

Intensive Archaeological Survey and Test Excavations

Geoarchaeological Investigations

Ethnopedology Study of Traditional Farmers

Artifact Analysis

Archaeological Monitoring

Baseline Reports and CRM Plans

The Sabodala Cultural Heritage Project (SCHP) represents the first major archaeological and ethnographic study of this portion of the upper Senegal River basin. We documented 300,000 years of occupation as well as provided a synthetic interpretation of local Malinké history and society. But the SCHP is much more than an academic research project; it is the first comprehensive cultural resource study ever performed in Senegal. Our objective was not simply to document and evaluate the past and present culture and cultural resources, but also to assist IFAN in the development of the institutional infrastructure to perform similar studies in the future. 

Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm: Environmental Statement

Between 2003 and 2008 a chapter for an environmental statement an ASIDOHL report and a strategy for archaeological mitigation were prepared for a proposed 750MWe off-shore wind farm in Liverpool Bay. The work included consideration of the 1242km offshore turbine array, the export cable to the shore and the terrestrial infrastructure required to link the wind-farm to the national transmission system.

Rosia Montana Gold Mine, Romania – 2003 - present

Dr G Wait has been advising the EIA co-ordinators, Canadian consultants ESG-Stantec, and the client, Rosia Montana Gold Corporation, on issues connected to the Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Statement, Public Consultation process, archaeology, ancient mines, historic buildings, churches and cemeteries, historic landscape, and the potential for cultural tourism to provide sustainable development for the local community beyond the duration of the proposed project.

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