An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of Apple Lane, Exeter, Devon

The format and contents of this report are an adaptation of the standards outlined in the Institute of Field Archaeologists' guidance paper for deskbased assessments (IFA 2001). The approaches adopted and the sources consulted additionally follow the recommendations for desk-based assessments outlined in Exeter City Council's planning guidance for archaeology and development (February 2004). The work has involved the consultation of the available documentary evidence, including records of previous discoveries and historic maps, and has been supplemented with a site walkover. The format of the report is adapted from an Institute of Field Archaeologists Standard Guidance paper (IFA 2001). In summary, the work has involved: � identifying the client's objectives; identifying the cartographic and documentary sources available for consultation; assembling, consulting and examining those sources; dentifying and collating the results of recent fieldwork; and �a site walkover. The principal sources consulted in assessing this site were: �the Devon County Sites and Monuments Record; the Exeter City Council Urban Archaeological Database; the Archaeology Officer for the Devon County Archaeological Service; the Archaeology Officer for Exeter City Council; the Devon Record Office; the West Country Studies Library; the National Monuments Record; and the Results of a Geophysical Survey on the Site (Heard 2006a). The Devon Sites and Monuments Record holds details of all known archaeological and historic sites in the vicinity of the proposed development. Work in the Exeter City Urban Archaeological Database was confined to the consultation of a report on a recent geophysical survey carried out on land to the south of the A379 (Heard 2006b) and an environmental statement for Exeter Rugby Group (Faber Munsell 2003). The Archaeology Officers for Exeter City Council and the Devon County Archaeological Service provided details of recent fieldwork still to be entered on the County Sites and Monuments Record or where reports are not yet available. The Devon Record Office retains the tithe and other historic maps including some of the Ordnance Survey editions. The West Country Studies Library has facsimile copies of some of the smaller scale historic maps of Devon, a selection of Ordnance Survey editions and a range of secondary documentary sources. Research at the National Monuments Record was confined to a consultation of the aerial photographic collection and listing schedules held by English Heritage. The geophysical survey on the site has just been completed as part of the assessment process (Heard 2006a). There has been no other archaeological work carried out within the proposed development area. The assessment of its potential has, therefore, relied on the results of the geophysical survey (Heard 2006a) and predictive modelling based on the known distribution of remains within a one kilometre radius of the site (from a central grid reference of SX 9616 9120). This search area was defined in consultation with the Archaeology Officer for Exeter City Council and was designed to include the evidence necessary for an informed appraisal of the proposed development area. The available information is derived from geophysical surveys, watching briefs, evaluations, excavations, systematic surface collections, unsystematic surface collections, artefacts recovered by metal detectorists, casual finds, aerial photographs and historical records. It should be stressed that the distribution represents the extent of current knowledge and is the product of chance. Although selected parts of the local landscape have been the subject of systematic archaeological fieldwork, this has not covered the entire area. For this reason, apparently blank zones should not be automatically regarded as being devoid of remains.