The archaeological map

  • Heritage
  • Archaeology
  • Heritage protection
  • Hauts-de-France
  • All audiences

The purpose of the archaeological map is to know the archaeological heritage to better protect it. This inventory is complemented by scientific studies that deepen this knowledge. In general, it contributes to the protection of sites: preventive archaeology prescriptions are largely based on its information.

The most remarkable sites can be listed or classified as Historical Monuments. Others are protected in the Land Use Planning Guidelines, as the Regional Archaeological Service is consulted as part of the Bring to Knowledge. It also makes it possible to draw up maps of the Zones de presumption de prescriptions archéologiques (ZPPA) which constitute widely disseminated warning documents and establish thresholds for referral for the investigation of authorisations to develop.

Inventory

The archaeological map contains a great deal of information about the archaeological remains. It is fed by data from bibliography, incidental discoveries, various prospections, excavations, archives and aerial and satellite orthophotography. Several community archaeological services are involved in this work. It is managed regionally on a national geographic information system (GIS) that combines a database (PATRIARCHE) and a mapping software (ARCVIEW). Where possible, sites and site indices are accurately located at the cadastral level. Of the five departments, the PATRIARCHE base lists more than 38,000 archaeological entities (as of January 2020), but each year new sites are discovered, which shows that this inventory is far from exhaustive. This information is not available to everyone.

Study

The Regional Archaeology Service coordinates, authorizes and carries out prospecting operations of all types (walking, geophysical, aerial, drone and LIDAR , archive research). Its agents analyse the results that enrich the archaeological map. This research is also integrated into collective research projects (many of which are led by SFA agents), bring together professional archaeologists from different backgrounds and volunteers and aim to produce summaries on periods or themes. The purpose of this scientific work is publication in specialized journals.

Protect

During the appraisal of the development authorizations, the information of the archaeological map allows the evaluation of the risk of archaeological discovery and partly bases the decision of the State on the possible prescriptions to be enacted.

For the most remarkable sites, they allow to propose an inscription or a classification under the title of Historical Monuments.

Bring him to light

The Regional Archaeology Service is involved in the preparation of the Land Use Planning Guidelines and in the first place, the Municipal Maps and Local Town Planning (PLU), Territorial Coherence Schemes (SCOT), etc. It also contributes to the Architectural and Heritage Development Areas (AVAP) and safeguarded sectors.

The emphasis is on archaeological prescription presumptive zones (ZPPA) for the information of the public, planners and services responsible for the appraisal of development authorizations. They establish referral thresholds below the default thresholds of 3 hectares. This communal zoning, carried out for all the 1538 municipalities of the North and Pas-de-Calais, is being revised. For the Aisne, the Oise and the Somme, 652 communes have a ZZPA, which can be consulted in town hall and in theAtlas of Heritage.