HS2 Ltd has awarded the largest ever archaeological post-excavation contract to Access+, a consortium led by Headland Archaeology.
The contract is for the detailed research and analysis of all the archaeological and historic building investigations carried out by HS2.
The exciting discoveries made during the fieldwork along the 140 mile route between London and the West Midlands, tell only half the story. This additional analysis will provide more details of the rich history of Britain, further unlocking the value of the findings from the fieldwork undertaken on the HS2 project.
HS2’s extensive programme of archaeological investigation began in 2018 with more than 60 sites investigated as part of the infrastructure programme. With over 1,000 archaeologists and specialists working on the project, discoveries made were wide-ranging and included uncovering Romano-British busts, Anglo-Saxon burials rich in jewellery and artefacts in Buckinghamshire, a vast roman trading settlement in Northamptonshire, and the world’s oldest railway roundhouse, designed by Robert Stephenson, in Birmingham.
The contract, which will run over a six year period, will initially involve a period of detailed design, followed by the delivery of the research, analysis, publication and archiving. HS2 has worked with Historic England to develop the scope of the contract, which builds on HS2’s own Historic Environment Research and Delivery Strategy.
Once the final post-excavation research is complete, it is anticipated that the artefacts will be deposited in museums near to the HS2 route where they were discovered.
Helen Wass, Head of Historic Environment at HS2 Ltd, said:
“HS2’s archaeological fieldwork was unprecedented in its size and scale and explored over 10,000 years of British history. This next phase of work will deepen our understanding of the fascinating history of Britain, with further analysis of the discoveries.
“Our contractor, Access+ will be delivering on our commitment to share our findings with local communities and leave a lasting legacy for years to come.”
Access+ will be led by Headland Archaeology, working in partnership with 4AD Consultants, ARUP, Copper Consultancy, DigVentures, Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), HSE Solutions, and a wide range of industry and academic specialists.
The outcomes of the research and knowledge gained will be shared across a range of media, including books, lectures, exhibitions, social media and other online resources.
The vast digital archive generated will be deposited with the Archaeology Data Service providing an unparalleled and free-to-access resource for everyone.
Mike Kimber, Head of Contracting and Infrastructure at Headland Archaeology, said:
“Headland Archaeology and our partners within Access+ have had long-running involvement in the HS2 project. We are delighted to be working with HS2 to write the next chapter of the archaeological works. This project will create a valuable legacy, bringing the results of HS2’s archaeological work to a diverse audience and making it accessible for future learning and skills development”
Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said:
“There is so much to learn from the archaeological excavations which have happened as part of HS2 and we’re excited to see work begin on the results of the investigations. Detailed specialist analysis and research will delve deeper into individual sites, to draw out comparisons and contrasts across this archaeologically rich area of the country. We look forward to working in partnership with HS2 and Access+ to help them deliver this ambitious project.”
