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On 24th June, Rob Whytehead, Head of the English Heritage, Greater London Archaeological Advisory Service organised a symposium on recent excavations of Post-medieval burial grounds in London at the Institute of Archaeology, Gordon Square. The audience included commercial archaeologists and archaeological monitors from around the country.

The aim was to review the field of post-medieval burial archaeology since the excavation of the crypt of Christ Church, Spitalfields some 22 years ago, exchange information on current approaches and discuss where to go from here.

The day began with three speakers setting the scene. Each came to the subject from a slightly different perspective: commercial (Natasha Powers, MoLAS), curatorial (Jelena Bekvalac, MoL) and historical (Dr. Vanessa Harding, Birkbeck). The emphasis was on methodological advances, standardisation within osteology and new population level information. Excavations at the Royal London Hospital gave an example of how archaeology can add to, and even contradict the established documentary evidence. The possibilities of examining topics such as the effect of smoking on past health and the importance of scientific methods, such as stable isotope research into diet and mobility were raised, and research requests from a wide variety of scientific disciplines presented. There was a plea for greater communication between historians and archaeologists, particularly when discussing demography and population movement.

The second session concentrated on the different archaeological methods applied to work in post-medieval cemeteries, the importance of recording structures and funerary artefacts and some of the practical constraints (Adrian Miles, MoLAS; Jackie McKinley, Wessex Archaeology). A successful case study of working with an exhumation company to archaeologically record recent burials was also presented, challenging our ideas of what may be considered archaeology (Melissa Melikian, AOC Archaeology).

The final session posed the controversial question of how, and whether, post-medieval burial grounds should be routinely sampled. Practical considerations in sampling strategies were presented (Dr. Simon Mays, EH), along with high and low resolution recording as a solution to project pressures (Dr. Louise Loe, Oxford Archaeology) and the position of the Church of England (Brian Cuthbertson, London DAC).

The discussion which followed centred on why the archaeological and heritage community treat post-medieval burials differently from those from earlier periods and whether we should. There was a plea from the archaeological monitors for clear messages on potential so that they can make well informed decisions during the planning process. The discussion is intended to inform guidance for the future excavation of post-medieval burial grounds in the Capital. Interestingly, questions were raised as to the application of watching-briefs to burial grounds and there was a feeling of optimism that the monitors were now more aware of the potential archaeological recording offers in comparison to exhumation. This led to a discussion regarding strategies based on financial/time pressures from clients and people questioned whether this should be being used instead of the 'normal' assessment then analysis of a sub-sample strategy. A new guidance document is to be produced by English Heritage focussing on the excavation of large-scale urban cemeteries.