The Urban Archaeology of the Crossrail Project

Document type: Journal Publication
Author: Jay Carver BA (Hons) MIFA
Publication Date: 15/11/2010

  • Abstract

    Crossrail passes through the heart of the West End of London and along the north edge of the Roman and Medieval city where deep construction for several new stations has required the careful assessment and evaluation of the archaeological sequence at some key historic locations. Important historic buildings and industrial archaeology sites are also being investigated.

    This paper provides a description of the organisational framework that the archaeology programme operates in and looks at the project design, management structure, access and programme risk constraints that have affected the project planning. It will look specifically at how the various stakeholders have agreed to control impacts on archaeological sites, the coordination of the multiple consultants teams and contractors who are undertaking archaeological works for the project. Results so far (2010) and some of the key challenges are also discussed.

    This paper was published in ‘the Proceedings of the Conference of Cultural Heritage and New Technologies (CHNT) 15’, Vienna 2010  (p518-537) and can be accessed here.

  • Authors
    Photo of Jay Carver

    Jay Carver BA (Hons) MIFA - Crossrail Ltd

    Lead Archaeologist, Crossrail

    Jay was appointed by Crossrail to the technical directorate to author and develop the standards and procedures, procurement model, development of scope and specification for the archaeology framework contracts, tender evaluation of technical submissions, and oversee design consultant deliverables for the Crossrail Archaeology programme in 2006. He joined the Crossrail delivery team in 2010 to oversee completion of the detailed scope and programme design by Crossrail’s design consultant framework, liaise with all projects across the programme to ensure archaeology and non-listed built heritage works were successfully integrated into project programmes.

    Between 2010 and 2016 he has overseen  the successful delivery  of all archaeology survey and mitigation works during construction of Crossrail.  He acted as Crossrail lead spokesperson for archaeology stakeholder, community relations and media events during the course of the programme.

    Jay’s previous infrastructure experience includes project lead archaeologist for numerous major highway schemes (including the 28Km A46 Newark to Widmerpool dual carriageway in Nottinghamshire) and the London DLR City Airport extension, and as Senior Archaeologist for the High Speed 1 Channel Tunnel Rail Link project between Folkestone and London St Pancras.

    Jay has delivered numerous conference papers and lectures on the archaeology of the Crossrail project, some of which can be found in the legacy section, and he is author of the Historic Environment and archaeology sections in the CEEQUAL manual, and CIRIA Environmental good practice on site guide (4th Edition), and Cultural Heritage sections in the Highways England DMRB (various, including Vol. 10 Design Guidance). He is co-author of the CIRIA best practice guidance Archaeology and Development (2008).

    https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jay-carver-75091327