What is this about
This Option enables you to improve the condition of archaeological and historic sites through careful management.
Archaeological and historic sites provide a tangible link with our past. They contain information that can tell us about how our ancestors lived, managed the land, worshipped, died, and how they shaped the landscape that we live in today. They are the only source of evidence for much of Scotland's past.
Archaeological and historic sites are vulnerable to damage or destruction from a number of natural and human actions. Once destroyed, an archaeological site cannot be replaced.
What will this achieve
This Option will improve the condition of archaeological or historic sites. This will ensure that the sites are better preserved for current and future generations to understand and enjoy.
What you can do
Under this Option, you will undertake a programme of management of one or more archaeological sites for a period of 5 years. The proposed programme of management (including maps showing the locations of works proposed) should be set out in detail in your application.
There are a number of ways in which you can identify archaeological sites on your land. If you had an archaeological audit of your land for a previous agri-environment scheme, you may be able to refer to this. Your local authority archaeologist may be able to advise, although not all local authority areas offer services in relation to RDCs. Alternatively, you can consult Pastmap ( http://www.pastmap.org). Pastmap is provided free of charge, but you will need to complete a short registration process.
Historic Scotland can advise on the management of scheduled monuments. If the site you are managing is a scheduled monument, you may require scheduled monument consent (SMC). This needs to be obtained before any work can commence on site. It is therefore important that you contact Historic Scotland for advice at an early stage of your proposal planning.
In order to bring a site into optimum condition, one or more of the following actions will usually be required.
- Bracken control: Bracken obscures archaeological sites, making them harder to interpret and more vulnerable to accidental damage. In addition, bracken root systems (known as rhizomes) are substantial and penetrate the ground deeply, causing extensive damage to buried archaeological remains. Bracken is best tackled before it comes too heavily established on an archaeological site. Cut or crush fronds twice a year (about mid-June and again 6 weeks later for at least 3 years in a row). Hand spraying is also an option, but you should avoid the use of heavy machinery, since this could damage archaeological features. After the infestation has been cleared, the site should be monitored for the remainder of the Contract, with re-growth controlled as required.
- Gorse, Rhododendron, scrub or other woody plants: You should only use methods that do not involve ground disturbance. You should control gorse, scrub and other woody plants by cutting off at ground level. Cut stumps should be spot treated with an appropriate herbicide. The cut vegetation should be removed from the site, and you should monitor the site through the 5 years of the Contract, controlling re-growth as required. If the trunk diameter of the vegetation you want to control exceeds 10cm and the site is a scheduled monument, you must contact Historic Scotland well in advance of starting any work, as consent will be required.
- Tree felling and removal: Removal of trees from archaeological sites is not always necessary, particularly if the trees are stable and relatively mature. However, root growth can damage archaeological remains and masonry, particularly with young trees, whose roots can grow rapidly. In addition, windthrow can pose a significant risk to archaeological sites as it can heave up root plates and damage masonry. If you plan to fell any trees on a scheduled monument, you must contact Historic Scotland well in advance of starting any work, as consent will be required. Any tree felling proposals should be accompanied by supportive survey work, assessments of tree health, protected species survey and where appropriate an assessment of historic significance and integrity, demonstrating that the work is being proposed as part of a systematic management plan.
Trees identified for felling should be felled and removed in the first year of your Contract. To avoid ground disturbance, trees should be cut off at ground level and the stumps spot-treated to prevent re-growth. Stumps should be left to rot in the ground and should not be dug out. Brash and timber should be removed with care. If possible, the trunks of wind-thrown trees should be cut and the root plate eased back into place. The area managed should be monitored for the remainder of the Contract. Any regenerating scrub, woody plants and self-seeded trees should be cut and sprayed with an appropriate herbicide, accompanied by further cutting, if necessary. - Muirburn: If the site you wish to manage is in an area of unmanaged heather moor, you can help to keep the visible features well-defined by undertaking a regular Muirburn programme (following the Muirburn Code, Scottish Natural Heritage). If you undertake this Option, you must take care to ensure that any underlying organic layer or peat does not burn, as this can harm archaeological remains.
- Grazing control: Archaeological sites usually benefit from light grazing in order to keep sites free of scrub and bracken and reduce the risk of fire. Many archaeological sites in grazed land are stable and do not need additional management to bring them into good condition. However, where localised stock erosion is taking place on an archaeological site, or excessive scrub growth is occurring, it may be necessary to alter or establish a grazing regime to prevent damage to surface and buried archaeological remains. Under this Option, you can increase or introduce grazing to an archaeological site to help control scrub in addition to manual vegetation control. Alternatively, you can reduce grazing levels on archaeological sites where stock erosion or ground poaching is a problem. In either case, grazing levels should ensure that existing grass or heather cover is retained but scrub, woody plants and self-seeding trees do not become established.
It is not usually necessary to fence a site off permanently to protect it from stock erosion. In fact, fencing a site off can cause more problems in the longer term, as stock exclusion will usually lead to rapid colonisation by scrub and self-seeding trees. If grazing on the site does cease altogether, manual vegetation control will need to be introduced to keep scrub, woody plants and self-seeded trees under control. The addition or removal of fences, gates or stiles on scheduled monuments will require scheduled monument consent. Fencing may also have an adverse impact on the appearance of a scheduled monument, and so you should seek the advice of Historic Scotland if you propose any fencing on or close to a scheduled monument. With unscheduled sites, any fences, stiles or gates should be at least 10m outside the outermost visible features on the site. - Earthwork repair: Many historic and archaeological sites are of earthwork construction. Natural and man-made damage can occur to earthworks through actions such as slope erosion, windthrown trees, stock erosion and vehicle damage. This can lead to scarring on earthwork sites, damage of archaeological remains and the loss of important archaeological information. Under this Option, you can define and carry out a programme of repairs to archaeological earthworks. The nature and scale of the works required will depend on the site-specific circumstances. With scheduled monuments, contact Historic Scotland for advice at an early stage, as scheduled monument consent will be required. In conjunction with the earthwork repairs, the reconstituted ground should be reseeded by hand with a suitable grass/wildflower mix. In addition, the causes of the original erosion should be eliminated.
The removal of earth or turf from close proximity to a monument can damage surrounding archaeology, so if additional soil is required to repair the earthworks, this should be 'clean' topsoil brought in from outside the immediate area. You should check with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) before bringing earth or topsoil onto the site, as it is possible that the requirements of the Waste Management Licensing Regulation 1994 may apply.
- Removal of recent field-cleared stone from sites of archaeological interest: 20th-century field-cleared stone can obscure details of archaeological sites, hindering their management and interpretation. Under this Option, you can remove recent field-cleared stone from an archaeological site, taking care not to disturb the ground surface. With scheduled monuments, contact Historic Scotland for advice at an early stage, as scheduled monument consent will be required for the work. For unscheduled sites, you should seek specialist advice to ensure that you do not inadvertently remove archaeological material from the site.
- Cultivation buffer zones: If the site you wish to manage is an isolated unploughed area in a ploughed field, you should extend an unploughed buffer zone to at least 10m beyond the outermost visible feature of the site. You must monitor this unploughed buffer zone for the duration of the Contract, controlling scrub regeneration and bracken as required.
- Cropmark sites: For land containing archaeological sites visible only as cropmarks, you should sow the site to grass, including a minimum 10m buffer area around the known extent of the site. When establishing the sward, the ploughing depth must not exceed 10 cm. If the site is not grazed, you should monitor for the duration of the Contract, and control any regenerating scrub or trees as required.
- Work to masonry structures: Some archaeological or historic sites include areas of upstanding masonry. Many processes, such as water ingress, mortar failure and vegetation growth, can cause masonry to deteriorate and become unstable, often leading to collapse. This Option enables you to undertake works to prevent further deterioration or collapse, such as vegetation removal and consolidation of masonry. You should obtain specialist advice about what works, if any, are appropriate for the site; these will be heavily dependent on site-specific circumstances. You will also need to obtain specialist input to the planning and execution of the work. With scheduled monuments, contact Historic Scotland for advice at an early stage, as scheduled monument consent will be required for the work.
Who can apply
Any rural land manager, business, non-profit organisation, rural community group or individual with an eligible site.
Eligibility criteria
The site being managed must be either visible above ground or visible as cropmarks. Management of artefact findspots or battle sites is not eligible for funding under this Option unless other archaeological remains survive at that location. You cannot use this option to manage any buildings that are in use.
What costs will be supported
You will be reimbursed 100% of the cost of site management under this Option. This will be paid annually and retrospectively. In support of payment claims, you should submit a record of labour hours and additional costs that you have spent on materials and machinery use during the year (in the form of receipts where possible). If you undertake the work yourself, the hourly skilled labour rate will apply. If you employ a contractor to undertake the work on your behalf, receipted invoices must be provided in support of your payment claims. Works associated with the requirements of the Waste Management Licensing Regulation 1994 are ineligible for funding.
To ensure value for money we require you to provide 2 competitive quotes for any capital items applied for which are based on actual cost. If, however, you are seeking grant support towards something so specialised it is only available through 1 source then we would accept 1 quote. Please see the guidance on quotes and estimates for more information.
Rate of support
You will be reimbursed 100% of the cost of site management under this Option.
Inspections and verification
To aid inspections, you must keep a photographic record of the condition of each site you will manage under this Option. At a minimum, you should take photos before the management commences and again during years 1, 3 and 5 of your Contract. These photos must be retained for inspection purposes. The inspector will check the work carried out is the same as specified in the approval and that the claimed costs are justified. For inspection purposes, you must retain a copy of any consent documents obtained also.
List of links to relevant technical guidance
http://www.pastmap.org - Pastmap is a free online resource that allows you to access information about scheduled and unscheduled archaeological sites, listed buildings, and Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes.
http://www.rcahms.gov.uk - The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland is responsible for recording, interpreting and collecting information about the built environment. Their website includes links to a number of searchable databases.
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk - Historic Scotland safeguards the nation's historic environment and promotes its understanding and enjoyment on behalf of Scottish Ministers. Their website includes further information about scheduled monuments and their management.
http://www.algao.org.uk - The Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers. The ALGAO: Scotland part of the website contains links to a number of members' regional websites that may contain further information on archaeological and historic sites in your area.
http://www.scottisharchaeology.org.uk - The Council for Scottish Archaeology is a voluntary membership organisation that works to secure the archaeological heritage of Scotland for its people through education, promotion and support. Their website contains further guidance for rural land managers on the identification and management of archaeological sites.