Peter Crow, BSc, MSc

 

Programme Leader, Environmental and Human Sciences Division

Email: peter.crow@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Tel: +44 (0)1420 22255
Tel direct: +44 (0)1420 526168
Fax: +44 (0)1420 23563

Address:
Forest Research
Alice Holt Lodge
Farnham
Surrey GU10 4LH
UK

Peter joined Forest Research in 1986 where he undertook method development and chemical analysis of forest samples.  During Peter’s time in the laboratories, he also obtained his HNC (Lilly Prize winner) and his first degree, both of which were in biological sciences.  Combining this with research into air pollution, Critical Loads, tree root architecture and soil sustainability, Peter has developed an extensive expertise in environmental science.  As project leader for the new Historic Environment Research Programme, Peter enrolled for a further part-time degree in Geoarchaeology, which he successfully obtained at Reading University in 2002.

Current role

Prpgramme Leader, Environmental and Human Sciences Division

Researches and advises on the management of the historic environment in wooded landscapes, providing information to land managers, policy makers and heritage organisations.

Current programmes

Historic environment
Project Leader

Affiliations and achievements

• Member of Council for British archaeology
• Member of Council for Scottish archaeology

Research areas

• Interactions of trees and woodland with the archaeological resource
• Management guidance for archaeological sites and remains, veteran trees, ancient woodland and other historic landscape features
• Site monitoring to assess effectiveness of scheduled ancient monument (SAM) management plans
• Preservation of archaeological evidence in woodland soils
• Floodplain forestry and implications for wet-land archaeology
• The establishment of energy crops and possible impacts on any buried archaeological evidence
• GIS applications for mapping historic environment. GIS data quality and standards. Development of FC-wide GIS based historic environment management tool.
• Archaeological site/feature identification and mapping in forest environments using conventional and developing remote sensing techniques such as LiDAR.
• LiDAR project management services and advice for others considering surveys of forests and woodland for to show historic environment features
• Implications of Climate Change predictions and mitigation strategies for the Historic Environment within woodland
• The value of cultural heritage within wooded environments.

Publications in refereed journals and book chapters 

Crow, P. (Under review). A soil guide to the longevity of the archaeological resource in woodland environments. Journal of Archaeological Science.

Devereux B J, Amable G.S. and Crow, P. (In press). Visualisation of LiDAR Terrain Models For Archaeological Feature Detection. Antiquity

Crow, P., Benham, S., Devereux, B.J. and Amable, G.S. (2007). Woodland vegetation and its implications for archaeological survey using LiDAR. Forestry. 80 (3): 241-252.

Devereux, B.J., Amable, G.S., Crow, P. and Cliff, A.D. (2005). The potential of airborne LiDAR for detection of archaeological features under woodland canopies. Antiquity. 79. 648-660.

Crow, P. and Moffat, A.J. (2005). The management of the archaeological resource in wooded landscapes: an environmental perspective. Conservation and management of archaeological sites. 7, 103-116.

Crow, P. and Houston, T. (2004). The rooting habit of Short Rotation Coppice grown on Pelosol, Brown Earth, Surface and Ground Water Gley soils. Biomass and Bioenergy.  26, 497-505.

Crow, P. (2004 (in preparation)). A soil guide to the longevity of the archaeological resource in woodland environments. Journal of Archaeological Science.

Crow, P. (2003). Community woodland establishment on the Avon Levels and archaeological site assessment: A case study. Archaeology in the Severn Estuary 13 (for 2002).

Forestry Commission publications

Crow, P. (2005). The influence of soils and species on tree root depth. Forestry Commission Information note.

Crow, P. (2004) The role of research in managing the Historic Environment. Forest Research Annual Report and Account 2002-2003. The Stationery Office, Edinburgh.

Articles in popular trade journals 

Crow, P. (2007). Hi-tech solution to and age-old problem: mapping ancient sites in woodland. Land Research Extra, 44 September ed. Landscape Research group.

Crow, P. and Yarnell, T. (2002). Preservation or Destruction? Archaeological site management in woodland environments. Forestry and British Timber, January edition  p14-16.

Examples of unpublished reports    

Crow, P. (2005). British Ancient Woodland and Scheduled Ancient Monument data in GIS format: An overview.  20pp.

Crow, P. (2004). Forest Research field visit to Welshbury and Chestnut wood: Survey report.. 30pp.

Crow, P. (2004). Overview of FC GIS heritage data held in England: Examples from SEE, Dean, Northants and EA forest districts. 10pp.

Crow, P. (2003). The potential applications of Remote Sensing as a method of prospecting for archaeological sites under woodland. Internal document for Sustainable Forestry Group, 49 pp.

Crow, P. (2002). A soil guide to longevity: Woodland soil chemistry and implications for the archaeological resource. MSc Dissertation. University of Reading, 85 pp.

Crow, P. (2001). Trees and Forestry on Archaeological sites in the UK: a discussion document.  (Distributed to archaeologists and widely available. A later revision will contribute towards a FC technical publication), 70 pp.

Crow, P. (2000). The potential implications of woodland establishment at Lower Knole Farm, Almondsbury - for PPD, 32 pp.

Crow, P. (2000). The rooting habit of Short Rotation Coppice grown on Pelosol, Brown Earth, Surface and Ground Water Gley soils. – for PPD, 75 pp.

Crow, P. (2000). Trees and Forestry on Archaeological sites in the UK: a review 2nd ed.- for PPD, 63 pp.

Crow, P. (1999). The Sustainability of Whole Tree Harvesting of Corsican pine in Thetford Forest: a budget study  - for FE, 31 pp. (with annual updates)

Crow, P. (1999). Trees and Forestry on Archaeological sites in the UK: a review.- for PPD, 60 pp.

Contributions to conferences and symposia

Crow, P. (2007). Archaeological mapping in woodland by tree removal. South East England Woodland Archaeology Seminar. 11th October, 2007.

Crow, P. (2007). Managing the Historic Environment. NW England Forestry Commission Research Seminar. 20th June, 2007.

Crow, P. (2006). The application of LiDAR for archaeological prospection in woodland.  Chiltern woodland archaeological research seminar. March, 15th. 2006.

Graham, K. and Crow, P. (2005). A Woodland Burial Study: developing methodologies for monitoring and modelling the burial environment. The Conservation of Archaeological Materials – current trends and future directions.  November 13-17, 2005  Williamsburg, VA.

Crow, P. (2005). LiDAR survey of Welshbury Hillfort.  LiDAR workshop, chaired and held by Forest Research, at Alice Holt. February 4th, 2005.

Crow, P. and Moffat, A.J. (1999). Impacts of forests and forestry on features of archaeological and geoarchaeological importance. Geoarchaeology workshop: Landscape change over archaeological timescales. December 15-17, 1999. University of Reading.