4 Things You Need To Know To Successfully Apply For Your Archaeology Excavation Permit

Posted on: 24 June 2020

Archaeological assessments are a typical requirement for developers as part of their development and integrated development applications. These assessments identify and report any archaeological significance that may delay or inhibit a development; to get one, you'll need to successfully apply for archaeology excavation permit. These applications can be confusing, so you'll need to make sure you're well prepared if you want to get approved without delay. Here are the 4 main things you need to know to get your excavation permit as soon as possible.

1. Know your dates & locations

Make sure you've confirmed the exact address of your development site before applying, including the specific grid reference. Then try to estimate commencement and completion dates as closely as possible. If you don't have any past frame of reference, enquire with a quality excavation service. Your team will be able to provide you with an accurate timeline of the operation.

2. Know which documents you need

To get the application approved without any delays from the Heritage Council, you'll need to make sure all the documents required are printed and lodged alongside the application. It may seem simple, but missing even one document can lead to bureaucratic delays or even a refusal. Typically, the documents required include a printed and/or CD copy of an archaeological assessment and an invoice for the total assessment fee. In the case that you're proposing a development at the site, you'll usually also need copies of the plan, a plan of the sub-surface works and copies of the elevation drawing that contains the existing structures and proposed works.

3. Know what kind of excavation you need

There are a wide variety of archaeological excavation activities performed at development sites, such as test excavation, large-scale excavation, research excavation and archaeological monitoring. Your archaeological excavation service will help you determine which is the primary activity based on the scale of the project, known archaeological information about the surrounding area and any other relevant factors. You'll need to specify this on your permit application, so make sure you know it well in advance. 

4. Know the excavation strategies

Whether the local authority approves your permit will largely depend on whether they consider the archaeological methodology to be appropriate. Since archaeological excavation requires the removal of soil and rocks that could be covering artefacts, the tools required range from mechanical (trowels, whisk brooms and shovels) to heavy machinery like bulldozers. Explaining the excavation methodology in accurate detail on your application will ensure it's processed as quickly as possible.

For assistance, speak with a representative from an archaeology excavation service

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