Community Archaeology Fact Sheet

MOLA ¦ www.mola.org ¦Mortimer Wheeler House, 46 Eagle Wharf Road, London, N1 7ED ¦ 0207 410 2200 1

Buildings are some of the

most substantial things that

people create. They are all

around us and can survive

for long periods of time,

making them valuable

sources of historical

information.

The 7th century chapel of St. Peter-on-the-Wall,

one of the oldest buildings in the UK still in use. Buildings archaeologists try

to interpret this information

by examining a building closely and recording and analysing

their observations. Through this process, they can piece

together the history of a building and the people that used it.

Recording buildings

To record a building we carry out a survey. This usually includes taking

photographs and producing drawings to provide a detailed picture of a

building’s development and history. The amount of detail depends on the

level of survey being carried out. These levels are set out by English

Heritage and range from a basic visual record to a comprehensive

analytical record supported by detailed historical research. For further

guidance see:

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/understanding-historic-

buildings.

This former priory has lots of evidence of alteration,

showing how its use has changed over time.

When we record a building we

look at:

its design

the materials it is constructed

from

the construction techniques

used

decorative features

any evidence of change or

alteration

the setting of the building within its surroundings

The aim is to trace the development of the building from its construction

to the present day.

BUILDINGS ARCHAEOLOGY:

INTRODUCTION

Archaeology is the study of the past from the things that people leave

behind. This includes standing buildings. A buildings archaeologist is

someone who studies standing buildings.

Community Archaeology Fact Sheet

MOLA ¦ www.mola.org ¦Mortimer Wheeler House, 46 Eagle Wharf Road, London, N1 7ED ¦ 0207 410 2200 2

We study buildings to learn about the past. Buildings contain clues

to their history, from the materials used to build them, to the way

they have been constructed. A building rarely stays the same

during its lifetime and these changes can also give us a lot of

information. A building can tell us:

How it was

built

What it was used for

How important it was

The status of

its owner

Who lived

there

When it was

built

How it has changed over time and

why

Buildings can also tell us about

the social history of an area. As

fashions and needs have

changed, buildings have been

altered and new ones

constructed. This helps us to

trace the development of an

area over time. This high street has buildings of several different ages

and styles, showing how it has developed over time.

As a general rule of thumb, important, high status buildings tend to

be large, highly decorated and made from expensive materials.

Lower status buildings are smaller, with less decoration and made

from cheaper materials.

The more we know about our buildings, the better placed we are to make

decisions about their future. This is why buildings archaeology is

important. Surveying buildings allows us to monitor their condition and

keep track of any changes that have occurred. It also creates a permanent

record of a building that will survive even if the building does not.

Some buildings are so important that they have a special protected

status known as designation. In the UK, listing is the main form of

designation. English Heritage advises the Government on which

buildings are listed nationally. Buildings can also be listed locally by a

local council. This protection ensures that a listed building can’t just be

demolished, developed or altered significantly without due

consideration. By designating important historic buildings, we hope to

save them for future generations.

Protecting our historic buildings

BUILDINGS ARCHAEOLOGY: INTRODUCTION

Why do we study buildings?