PRESERVE – Predictive Research for Evaluating Sustainability and Enhancing Resilience of Valuable Environments

The aim of PRESERVE is to generate key tools, and needed research, to better predict and protect in situ archaeology in Medieval Towns.

The first step will be to create high-resolution digital deposit models that allow archaeologists to predict where archaeology is likely to be preserved, and what its preservation potential and environment may be. This will allow a more comprehensive assessment of the impact present and future intrusions, such as buildings, will have on archaeological layers, and what measures can be taken to reduce this.

Using the model, the project will also investigate the impact of different types of building materials and structures, such as piles, have on preservation conditions.

New pollutants are gathering in our environment, and there is much uncertainty over how they will affect our present and future. This is also the case for archaeological heritage, where micro plastics and other pollutants are potentially concentrating.

PRESERVE will investigate where pollutants are found under the ground, and what impact they may on the future of our shared heritage.