Armada One
May 10, 2007 by Janine Young
The Armada One site is part of the long-term regeneration of Gallions Reach, identified by the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation for the relocation of businesses to make way for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
L – P : Archaeology project managed the archaeological work required for a new 2.54ha warehouse and distribution centre with associated offices and amenities. The desk based assessment identified strong archaeological potential within the development area, as it is close to the Thames foreshore within the north Royal Albert Docks.
L – P liaised with the client, Robinson Kenning Gallagher, and English Heritage to formulate a 2 stage geoarchaeological investigation, which would maximise the recovery of buried information with minimal impact on the process of development in this sensitive area.
A basic GIS model of the underlying topography was created from initial data, giving valuable indications of site formation and trends in the deposits. The model enabled L – P to devise a set of targeted geoarchaeological boreholes to explore during construction.
The stratigraphy of the site was up to 8 meters deep through alluvium to the underlying River Terrace gravels. When linked with radiocarbon dates also undertaken, this spans roughly 6000 years. Detailed analysis of the borehole cores; noting pollen and diatom abundance, diversity and key species, was undertaken by Birmingham Archaeo-Environmental Laboratory Services. The palaeobotanical results were used to reconstruct the past environment; evidence of the River Thames’ activity and human settlements along its banks.
The full geoarchaeological assessment has increased the knowledge of the archaeology of the Thames’ north east floodplain and the report will be used to guide the local authority on archaeological conditions in the area.
Using environmental data from previous geotechnical boreholes for the initial stage of this project limited time and expense for the client. L – P secured the discharge of the archaeological condition swiftly, assisting completion of the development prior to the LDA deadline for relocation of businesses out of the Olympic Village area.
| Client: | Robinson Kenning Gallagher Architects |
| Site: | Gallions Reach, Beckton, London |
| Development type: | Commercial |
| Archaeological Contract: | £10,000 |