Editing Watching brief (section)

{{short description|Method in archaeology}}
{{for|the legal context|Watching brief (lawsuit)}}

In [[United Kingdom|British]] [[archaeology]] a '''watching brief''' is a method of preserving archaeological remains by record in the face of development threat.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Kevin Greene|author2=Tom Moore
|title=Archaeology: an introduction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qs6FSRx65JMC&pg=PA107
|accessdate=27 November 2011|date=9 July 2010|publisher=Routledge|pages=107–|isbn=978-0-203-83597-5
}}</ref> <ref>{{cite book|author=Joseph Elders|title=Revealing the past, informing the future: a guide to archaeology for parishes|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1J_KaG-Ave4C&pg=PA38|accessdate=27 November 2011|date=1 July 2004|publisher=Church House Publishing|pages=38–|isbn=978-0-7151-7603-0 }}</ref> An archaeologist is employed by the developer to monitor the excavation of foundation and service trenches, [[landscaping]] and any other intrusive work the developer undertakes to give the archaeologist sufficient time to identify and record any archaeological finds and features; however, the arrangement is rarely satisfactory for either party.

It is both intellectually and physically difficult to identify archaeological features in narrow foundation trenches and the potential delay to a project can also be difficult for a developer to incorporate into a development programme. Prior evaluation through [[trial trenching]] can overcome these problems by having the archaeology examined and removed or preserved before groundworks commence.

Defined by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) as: “…a formal programme of observation and investigation conducted during any operation carried out for non-archaeological reasons. This will be within a specified area or site on land, inter-tidal zone or underwater, where there is a possibility that archaeological deposits may be disturbed or destroyed. The programme will result in the preparation of a report and ordered archive.” (IFA rev.1999){{cn|date=August 2020}}{{clarify|date=August 2020}}
The purpose of an Archaeological Watching Brief is similarly defined by the CIfA and is: “to allow, within the resources available, the preservation by record of archaeological deposits, their presence and nature of which could not be established (or established with sufficient accuracy) in advance of development or other potentially disruptive works.”