The winter season has proved to be an extremely busy time for the Heritage and Archaeology team at Neo with a variety of exciting projects on the go. We have been involved with projects throughout the UK and Ireland including an extensive electromagnetic geophysical survey on a 25 hectare site in County Antrim to identify potential sub-surface archaeological remains. We continue to expand our geophysical services and are in the final stages of completing a further four projects in Northern Ireland using both electromagnetic and magnetometry geophysical prospection techniques to locate potential archaeology and inform future mitigation strategies.

We continue to excel in providing programmes of archaeological works (e.g. evaluations, watching briefs and excavations) to address archaeological planning conditions for a range of developments including housing, quarrying and renewable energy sectors. Over the winter we have conducted evaluations in Essex, Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire, Scotland and Ireland. Our evaluations have produced finds from the Neolithic to the 19^th century.

We have also been busy conducting walkover surveys and Heritage Impact Assessments to evaluate development sites for archaeological remains and assessing the visual impacts on the settings of nationally important heritage assets. We assessed the potential visual impacts of a residential development in Argyll and Bute on two Scheduled Ancient Monuments. Historic Environment Scotland had expressed concerns that the settings of the asset may be impacted by the development. However, our site visit and supporting visuals illustrated that there would be no impact.

As spring and summer approaches the Heritage and Archaeology team prepares itself for another busy season.

Some of Our Recent Projects

• Taychreggan Hotel, Argyll and Bute – Heritage Impact Assessment
• Land at Chancery Farm, Essex – Archaeological Evaluation
• King Style Close, Northamptonshire – Archaeological Monitoring
• Lisnevenagh, Northern Ireland – Geophysical Survey