Archaeology Field Practices

Land Study - In the Pursuit of Regenerative Architecture Our work is guided by a deep respect for nature, cultural heritage, and sustainable design. While every project presents unique conditions and challenges, our goal is to follow a thoughtful process that seeks harmony between the built environment and the natural world. 1.⁠ ⁠Data Gathering/collection (& planning / visioning )  Each project begins with a clear and intentional vision. We collaborate closely with our clients to define objectives and better understand the site’s specific character and constraints. Through land studies and regulatory assessments, we aim to shape designs that respond thoughtfully to their surrounding landscape and social context. 2.⁠ ⁠Restoration & Integration Our work prioritizes ecological regeneration, aiming to restore biodiversity, improve soil and water quality, and strengthen local ecosystems. By thoughtfully incorporating traditional knowledge and cultural heritage, we seek to support and complement ongoing cultural and ecological processes. 3.⁠ ⁠Proactive Strategies for Regeneration We incorporate proactive, regenerative solutions into our designs, employing responsible construction practices, renewable resources, and innovative methods that enhance environmental resilience and restore ecological balance. 4.⁠ ⁠Implementation & long term Stewardship Beyond design, we focus on how the project is built. We develop detailed construction guidelines to ensure that all prior research site studies, environmental strategies, and cultural context is respected and followed on-site. These guidelines serve as a bridge between concept and reality, helping collaborators align with the project's intentions. 5.⁠ ⁠Collaborative Learning & Community Empowerment We believe that creating regenerative spaces is a collective effort. We aim to learn from local knowledge, collaborate with specialists and communities, and share insights openly—so that every project becomes part of a broader movement toward more conscious, place-based architecture. While recognizing the limits and complexities of each project, this regenerative mindset guides us towards creating spaces that serve their purpose while honoring the land, culture, and people they are built for.

Why site investigation before building work starts is really important.🕵   In the UK you can spend a lot of money on the building work below ground that is hidden from view, things like the foundations and drainage. Having a better idea of what is below the ground, before you start digging some big holes or strips for foundations, is really useful as you can ensure the design is optimised to suit the unique ground conditions.    The photos are of some trial pits dug out a couple of weeks ago, for an extension project I’m currently working on.    The site is sloping and there was apparently bedrock quite close below ground. There is also an existing drain run below where the new extension is going to be located.    The site investigations showed us the depths of the existing house foundations & on one side the bedrock is indeed quite close to the ground surface. The two other trial holes also showed that the bedrock is quite deep below the ground surface. Over 1.2m deep in places, almost as if the bedrock drops off with a mini cliff face below ground.    The trial pits also gave us some understandings about the soil type, it appears to be shrinkable clay, near to some trees, some of which are quite thirsty.    We also discovered the accurate position of a manhole relating the drainage we are building over. The close proximity of the manhole chamber on to the existing house corner and being bang in the middle of the wall we want to build have meant we need to change the design a bit, to bridge over the manhole chamber.    If we hadn’t have done the site investigation before hand we wouldn’t have known how deep to make the foundations, the type of soil we need to work around, the trees nearby and the location of the drains / manhole. This would have meant when building works started there would have had to be some last minute design changes to accommodate the manhole chamber and unexpected costs for deeper foundations and more concrete.    Site investigation can also be completed in other ways which can often involve specialist geological drills / augers and laboratory assessment of ground samples. For extension projects trial pits are usually all you need.    The small cost of trial pits, usually in the region of a few hundred pounds, often outweighs the cost of extra materials, late design changes and also delays while amended designs are completed.    If you work in construction always dig some trial pits or complete other site investigations before building works start. It should save you and your clients time and money.    That’s something we try to be good at, saving our Clients time and money. ⏰ 💷

🧠 New Resource Drop: Windows Registry Forensics Essential Guide for DFIR & SOC Analysts 🔍💻 If you’re working in incident response, digital forensics, or SOC analysis, mastering Windows Registry artifacts is non-negotiable. The registry is one of the richest and most persistent sources of digital evidence — revealing who used the system, what ran, and when it happened. This hands-on forensic cheat sheet condenses the most valuable hive paths, artifacts, and triage tools into a single field reference that can drastically cut your investigation time. 🗂️  Inside the Guide 📁 Hive Overview SYSTEM, SOFTWARE, SAM, SECURITY, NTUSER.DAT, USRCLASS.DAT Complete breakdown of what each hive tracks — from user sessions to configuration and network history. Includes .log, .sav, and .alt variants for version recovery and transaction correlation. 🧩 Key Artifacts & What They Reveal SYSTEM: ControlSet selection, hostname, timezone, network interfaces SAM: Local account info, login timestamps, failed authentication attempts NTUSER.DAT / USRCLASS.DAT: MRUs, TypedPaths, ShellBags, RecentDocs (user activity) ShimCache / AmCache: Executed binaries, file hashes, timestamps — critical for execution timelines UserAssist / BAM / DAM: GUI app usage and background process tracking USB Forensics: Device enumeration, serials, plug-in history via USBSTOR and Enum keys 🧰 Tools You’ll Need KAPE – Rapid artifact acquisition RegRipper – Plugin-based extraction and reporting Registry Explorer / ShellBag Explorer – Deep-dive GUI analysis FTK Imager / Autopsy – For disk-level artifact recovery ⚙️ Why This Matters Registry analysis bridges the gap between system state and user behavior. With it, you can: ✅ Identify user sessions and activity timelines ✅ Correlate execution traces and persistence mechanisms ✅ Detect unauthorized access or lateral movement ✅ Support timeline reconstruction with precise timestamps 💡 Pro Tips Always parse offline hives to preserve integrity and avoid timestamp changes. Merge transaction logs for the most current view of registry data. Document every hive source, acquisition method, and tool version — chain of custody matters. Combine registry analysis with log parsing and memory artifacts for full context. 📄 Want the full “Windows Registry Forensics Cheat Sheet”? Drop a 🧠 in the comments or DM me — I’ll share the PDF. #DFIR #WindowsForensics #IncidentResponse #SOC #RegistryForensics #DigitalForensics #ThreatHunting #CyberSecurity #KAPE #RegRipper #WindowsSecurity #ForensicTools #BlueTeam

A quick note for anyone triaging Windows endpoints: Snipping Tool artefacts can often be recovered even after the capture window is closed. On most builds a capture is created by SnippingTool\.exe, ScreenSketch\.exe, or—on newer Windows 11 systems—ScreenClippingHost\.exe. When a user takes a snip and opens it—just once, even briefly—the tool writes a GUID‑named PNG to %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\ Microsoft\.ScreenSketch_8wekyb3d8bbwe\TempState. (Windows 11 22H2+ uses %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\MicrosoftWindows\.Client\.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\TempState). These files survive until log‑off or reboot, making them recoverable in many investigations. In our current exfil‑only case that fleeting copy would have been invaluable: attacker snips used for data theft or proof‑of‑compromise often surface here, giving a clear view of what was on‑screen. #IncidentResponse #WindowsSecurity #CyberSecurity #DFIR #ThreatHunting

Attention geotechnical engineers: The devil is in the details when looking at deep excavation design! Using steel brackets to offset your steel walers is a common method to create space for the basement wall reinforcement to go through. Otherwise, you'll need to stage the removal of the struts and possibly rebracing of the basement walls. The brackets can be sensitive to distortions, especially when attached to soldier pile walls. Case in point: this 1990s deep excavation collapse in Washington, D.C. The primary reason was that the brackets were carrying unbalanced loading, causing them to fail in flexure on their weak axis. With deep excavations, you need to think both as a geotechnical and structural engineer and consider load paths. If possible, keep loads symmetric. Now, for the easy part. I created a 3D finite element model of an excavation with soldier piles, lagging, and brackets in DeepEX. The bracket generation was a piece of cake, as I only had to specify it once, and the program took care of the rest, adjusting the walers and connecting the brackets to the piles. You can compare two models, one with each pile modeled or one with a continuous wall. DeepEX handled all the lagging, staging generation, and proper connections. Last, structural checks are performed on all members, including the 3D soldier piles. Remember: Always review results and ensure they pass a sanity test! Follow Deep Excavation LLC for more civil engineering life-saving tips!

Archaeology from above - using drones, GPR, and magnetometers. In the Mimbres region of New Mexico, Measur and Altomaxx supported archaeologists in a non-invasive survey of ancestral sites. A drone equipped with Radar Systems, Inc. Zond Aero 500 NG GPR and SENSYS - Magnetometers & Survey Solutions MagDrone R3 magnetometer helped identify buried walls, fire pits, and room blocks, without the need to dig. The setup included a DJI M300 drone, SPH Engineering SkyHub, and UgCS for flight planning, turning a rugged landscape into a 3D map of the past. A great example of how UAV-based geophysics is reshaping fieldwork and cultural preservation. What used to take days on foot can now be done in hours, with better resolution and access to hard-to-reach areas.

TECHNOLOGY BEHIND, PRECISION 3D PHOTOGRAMMETRY. 1. Photogrammetry is the science of obtaining accurate measurements and 3D data from photographs taken at different angles. 2. It uses overlapping images to reconstruct objects, landscapes, or structures in 3D space with precision. 3. This technique dates back to the mid-19th century but has evolved with modern digital cameras and computer algorithms. 4. Photogrammetry is widely used in mapping, architecture, archaeology, and aerial surveys to create detailed 3D models. 5. Drones and satellites play a crucial role by capturing high-resolution images for large-scale photogrammetric projects. 6. It works on the principle of triangulation, where multiple viewpoints are combined to calculate distances and object positions. 7. Advanced software integrates artificial intelligence to automate the photogrammetric process, reducing manual effort and errors. 8. It is essential in creating topographic maps, which help in urban planning, geological studies, and disaster management. 9. Photogrammetry also contributes to virtual reality, providing realistic 3D models for games, simulations, and educational tools. 10. In forensics, it reconstructs crime scenes by converting photographs into accurate spatial models. 11. The technology is cost-effective compared to laser-based scanning methods like LiDAR for certain applications. 12. Photogrammetry bridges art and science, offering tools to preserve cultural heritage by digitally documenting historical sites and artifacts.

A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) site survey is a crucial step before designing and deploying a BESS project. 1. Site Location and Accessibility ✅ Geographical Coordinates – Latitude & longitude of the site ✅ Site Access – Road conditions, distance from the main highway, transport feasibility ✅ Security – Fencing, surveillance, and access control requirements ✅ Environmental Conditions – Nearby water bodies, forests, flood zones 2. Electrical Infrastructure ✅ Grid Connection – Distance from the nearest substation, voltage levels, and grid capacity ✅ Existing Transformers & Switchgear – Availability, ratings, and need for upgrades ✅ Point of Interconnection (POI) – Location, capacity, and grid compliance requirements ✅ Power Quality Parameters – Voltage fluctuations, harmonics, and frequency variations 3. Load Profile & Energy Needs ✅ Peak Demand (MW/MWh) – Maximum and minimum load requirements ✅ Load Fluctuations – Seasonal variations and power demand curve ✅ Backup Requirements – Grid support, peak shaving, or islanding capability ✅ Future Load Expansion – Provision for additional capacity 4. Environmental & Climatic Conditions ✅ Temperature Range – Min/max temperature for BESS thermal management ✅ Humidity & Rainfall – Impact on enclosures, electrical components, and corrosion risk ✅ Seismic & Wind Load – Structural stability against earthquakes and storms ✅ Flooding Risk – Historical flood data, drainage facilities, and mitigation measures 5. Space & Layout Considerations ✅ Available Land Area – Space for BESS containers, transformers, and switchgear ✅ Ground Conditions – Soil testing, load-bearing capacity, and need for reinforcement ✅ Shading & Heat Islands – Impact of nearby structures on ventilation and cooling ✅ Fire Safety Clearances – Minimum spacing for fire protection and emergency access 6. Safety & Compliance ✅ Fire Suppression System – Availability of fire detection, suppression (e.g., FM-200, NOVEC) ✅ Local Regulations & Permits – Compliance with electricity board and environmental laws ✅ Battery Safety Standards – IEC 62619, UL 9540A, NFPA 855, and other applicable standards ✅ Hazardous Material Handling – Battery electrolyte safety and emergency handling procedures 7. Communication & Control Systems ✅ SCADA & Monitoring – Remote access, data logging, and integration with grid operations ✅ Internet Connectivity – Availability of fiber, cellular, or satellite communication ✅ Cybersecurity – Protection against hacking, data security protocols ✅ Telemetry & Alarms – Real-time alerts for temperature, SOC, SOH, and fault conditions 8. Civil & Structural Requirements ✅ Foundation Type – Concrete pad, piles, or elevated structures based on soil study ✅ Drainage & Water Management – Preventing water accumulation near battery enclosures ✅ Cable Routing & Trenching – Underground or overhead cabling for power and communication ✅ Cooling System Installation – HVAC or liquid cooling provisions

Feasibility of a utility-scale BESS project: 1. Site Selection Location Suitability: Evaluate the site for physical space, accessibility, and proximity to the grid connection point. Consider factors like land ownership, zoning regulations, potential for expansion. 2. Grid Connection and Integration Interconnection Requirements: Analyze the technical requirements for connecting the BESS to the grid, including voltage levels, power capacity, and grid stability. Grid Compatibility: Ensure the BESS can handle grid dynamics, such as fluctuations in voltage and frequency, and assess the system’s ability to provide ancillary services like frequency regulation or reactive power support. 3. Battery Technology Selection Technology Suitability: Compare different battery technologies (e.g., lithium-ion, flow batteries, solid-state) based on energy density, cycle life, efficiency, and response time to ensure the project’s needs. Thermal Management: Consider the thermal management requirements of the selected battery technology, including cooling systems and potential for thermal runaway. 4. System Sizing & Scalability Energy & Power Requirements: Determine the optimal size of the BESS based on the project's storage and power output. This includes peak load demands, duration of energy discharge, and frequency of cycling. Scalability: Assess the potential for future expansion and whether the system design can be scaled up to accommodate increased demand or additional storage capacity. 5. Performance and Reliability Cycle Life & Degradation: Evaluate the expected cycle life of the batteries and their degradation rate over time, considering the impact on performance and maintenance costs. System Reliability: Analyze the reliability of the entire system, including power conversion systems, inverters, and control systems. Ensure redundancy and fail-safes are in place to maintain continuous operation. 6. Control & Communication Systems EMS: Evaluate the control systems responsible for managing the charge/discharge cycles, ensuring optimal performance, and integrating with the broader energy management strategy. Communication Protocols: Ensure compatibility with existing grid communication protocols and consider the need for secure, real-time data exchange between the BESS and grid operators. 7. Energy Efficiency & Losses Round-Trip Efficiency: Calculate the round-trip efficiency of the BESS, considering losses during charging, discharging, and energy conversion. This impacts the overall economic feasibility of the project. Self-Discharge Rate: Evaluate the self-discharge rate of the batteries and how it affects long-term storage efficiency, especially for applications requiring extended storage. 8. Integration with Renewables Renewable Energy Compatibility: If the BESS is intended to integrate with renewable energy sources (e.g., solar, wind), assess the compatibility of the system in terms of variability in generation and storage. #BESS #Powersystem #renewable