Stoke-on-Trent Archaeology Service

Stoke-on-Trent has a rich archaeological heritage, stretching back to the prehistoric period. However, the City’s unique character is largely the result of its more recent history and, in particular, its industrial development. The area’s involvement in coal mining, iron working, brick and tile making, and pottery manufacture has had a major impact upon the landscape and the development of settlement, and has left behind a fascinating range of archaeological remains throughout the City. Evidence for the most significant of these industries, pottery manufacture, survives above and below the ground in most areas in and around the historic town centres and is readily identifiable through archaeological excavation.

The City’s archaeology is a finite and irreplaceable resource which should be preserved for the benefit of future generations. It is a major cultural asset which can contribute to both a sense of place and to the future development of the City. Stoke-on-Trent Archaeology Service aims to preserve and to understand the City’s archaeology through detailed research and through the planning process, while at the same time spreading the word about archaeology and involving local people through public talks, events, and Community Digs. The Archaeology Service also operates a contracting archaeology unit, Stoke-on-Trent Archaeology, which has built up a great expertise in the archaeology of the area and in the products of the local industries.