EN 17652:2022

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-november-2022
Kulturna dediščina - Ocenjevanje in spremljanje stanja ohranjenosti arheoloških
najdišč na kraju samem
Cultural heritage - Assessment and monitoring of archaeological deposits for
preservation in situ
Erhaltung des kulturellen Erbes - Anforderungen an die Überwachung und Untersuchung
der Umgebung von Lagerstätten des Kulturerbes
Patrimoine culturel - Investigation et suivi de l'état de conservation des couches
archéologiques pour la préservation in situ
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 17652:2022
ICS:
97.195 Umetniški in obrtniški izdelki. Items of art and handicrafts.
Kulturne dobrine in kulturna Cultural property and
dediščina heritage
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 17652
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
September 2022
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 97.195
English Version
Cultural heritage - Assessment and monitoring of
archaeological deposits for preservation in situ
Patrimoine culturel - Investigation et suivi de l'état de Erhaltung des kulturellen Erbes - Anforderungen an
conservation des couches archéologiques pour la die Überwachung und Untersuchung der Umgebung
préservation in situ von Lagerstätten des Kulturerbes
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 24 July 2022.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2022 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 17652:2022 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Objective and procedure . 7
5 Assessment . 8
5.1 General . 8
5.2 Desktop study . 10
5.3 Preliminary assessment . 10
5.4 Detailed assessment . 12
5.5 Conclusion and decision-making . 12
6 Monitoring . 14
6.1 General . 14
6.2 Design of a monitoring programme (“Plan”) . 16
6.3 Monitoring (“Do”) . 17
6.4 Review of data (“Check”) . 17
6.5 Completion of monitoring (“Adjust”) . 17
6.6 Continued monitoring (“Adjust”) . 18
6.7 Mitigation (“Adjust”) . 18
7 Reporting . 18
7.1 General . 18
7.2 Reporting of the desktop study . 18
7.3 Reporting of preliminary assessment . 19
7.4 Report of the detailed assessment . 19
7.5 Report of the programme of monitoring . 20
8 Quality assurance requirements . 20
Annex A (informative) Characterisation of the state of the preservation . 21
Annex B (informative) Characterisation of the environmental conditions – Archaeological
deposits . 25
Annex C (informative) Example of classifying site . 30
Bibliography . 33

European foreword
This document (EN 17652:2022) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 346 “Cultural
heritage”, the secretariat of which is held by UNI.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by March 2023, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by March 2023.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North
Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United
Kingdom.
Introduction
The principle that in situ preservation should be considered as the first option for the conservation of
terrestrial, wetland or underwater archaeological sites, before permitting or engaging in any activity
directed at these sites, is laid down in the Council of Europe [5] and UNESCO [24] conventions as well as
in two ICOMOS charters [8, 9].
This document is designed to assist authorities, archaeological and other consultants, owners,
developers, applicants and others responsible for sites of archaeological and historical significance to
ensure the best outcome for the preservation of discovered material and can also be helpful in ensuring
that relevant legislation and conditions are abided by. It sets out a decision-making framework for the in
situ preservation of archaeological deposits and identifies mechanisms for assessing and, where
appropriate, monitoring of these sites.
Archaeological deposits and the finds they contain have accumulated through human activity over
hundreds or thousands of years. They are found in urban and rural areas, in the intertidal zone and
underwater, and include evidence of past occupation as well as natural deposits representing past
environments. These archaeological deposits and sediments display large variations in their state of
preservation, environmental conditions, and vulnerability. If the deposits or the environment around
them are altered, their information potential can be reduced or destroyed. Accelerated degradation of
archaeological deposits, shrinkage and subsidence of the sediments can also have serious consequences
for existing buildings, roads and infrastructure built above them.
Where changes are proposed at an archaeological site, an assessment of the significance (the cultural and
other values assigned to the archaeological asset and its surroundings), and an evaluation of the state of
preservation and environmental conditions should be conducted to inform decision-making. The changes
could be developments in the terrestrial or underwater environments, land-use change or improved
conservation management. The objective of these assessments is to balance the long-term preservation
and protection of these non-renewable heritage assets with sustainable development.
Preservation assessment is an iterative process, with more detail required for the most complex sites,
such as those with waterlogged deposits or a broad range of archaeological materials present. Details of
the proposed development or land- and seabed-use change are also required before decisions can be
made as to whether such changes can be made in a way that also protects and preserves the
archaeological site. In some cases, the significance of the site might be low and the state of preservation
poor; at these sites, rapid assessment to conclude no further investigation work is needed, would be
sufficient. In some instances, for example at the most significant and complex sites, a monitoring
programme can be required to verify that conditions for long-term preservation are maintained. A key
part of designing a monitoring programme is defining the monitoring objectives, as well as monitoring
parameters and trigger levels. These will differ from site to site.
Monitoring can form an important element for the management of these more complex sites. This
document mainly provides information about monitoring the burial environment. Systematic, regular
monitoring of selected parameters using recognised methods supports the comparison of data and
results over time and between different sites. The use of traceable, reproducible methods and actions will
increase the quality and reliability of the data collected. This will ensure that any changes in the
archaeological deposits and sediments can be detected and reported to the relevant stakeholders so that
decisions about further action can be taken. Increased knowledge gained from these monitoring projects
will, over time, provide a better basis for future preservation strategies and decision-making.
1 Scope
This document describes assessments recommended for in situ preservation and monitoring of
archaeological sites. It sets out the main parameters used to assess the state of preservation of
archaeological materials and evaluate the environmental conditions of archaeological deposits and
provides a framework for monitoring sites. A decision-making framework is included to help readers
make appropriate knowledge-based choices.
The procedures described are appropriate for terrestrial, wetland or underwater archaeological sites.
They will not necessarily be relevant to all archaeological sites, and the level of assessment required and
the resources needed are expected to be balanced with and proportionate to the significance and
complexity of the site and the scale of any proposed changes.
The informative annexes relate primarily to terrestrial sites; for detailed technical guidance on
investigating and monitoring underwater sites, see sasmap.eu [19, 20].
NOTE Underwater sites include all underwater sites and those in the intertidal zone.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following term
...