Archaeological test excavation is a pre-development investigative strategy employed to determine the potential of sub-surface archaeology. It is frequently a requirement of planning requirements and is employed where a site scheduled for development is either in a known or recorded zone of archaeological potential, is close to known archaeology or if the development is of such a large size that there is an real possibility of archaeological presence. Large developments such as quarries, road schemes or large housing developments often require this strategy. This is one of the most effective ways to clarify the archaeological potential of a site.

This cost-effective approach ensures that should archaeology be present, a mitigation strategy is incorporated in the development so that the client is not subject to inordinate costs and delays to construction from what would have been an otherwise unexpected intervention. Discovery of archaeology during site construction work significantly negatively impacts on developments through causing construction work to stop and consequential time and cost delays. By undertaking test excavations in advance of construction, it allows for advance discovery and notification of the presence of archaeology. Mitigating this archaeology can then be incorporated into the construction strategy, thereby alleviate time and cost impacts.

Use of mechanical excavators to strip targeted locations under the careful supervision of a suitably qualified archaeologist, ensures that the best archaeological practices are employed. Any archaeological discovered features are then surveyed and recorded.