Survey

Initially,the work to identify Cold War sites was undertaken through desk based and archive research,supported by the analysis of historic air photography and brief site visits.At a handful of sites more detailed recording work was warranted in the context of legal protection,research prior to presentation,documentation before loss,to advance academic knowledge,or prior to public presentation.One site surveyed in more detail was the former Rocket Establishment in the north of England at Spadeadam,Cumbria.This facility was built in the late 1950s to develop an intermediate range ballistic missile,Blue Streak,with sufficient range to be able to threaten Moscow.The site was abandoned in the 1970s and reduced to concrete footings.

The survey was undertaken principally to document the site before consideration of its legal protection,but also to assist with its future management.The techniques used were similar to those used on any historical site.All the features regardless of date were mapped and a record sheet was created for each one containing a brief description and history.(https://www.daowen.com)

The need for an archaeological survey of a relatively modern site might be questioned.Elsewhere,it has been found that although sites may only be 60-70 years old plans and documents have often been lost.This loss often occurred at the point of closure when the offices responsible for the maintenance of administrative records were disbanded,and especially in the past where systems for identifying records of historic interest were lacking.Once a facility has closed it may also be difficult to justify the expense of safely storing its records.This is particularly the case in research establishments where documents relating to abandoned projects may simply be destroyed.Many early Cold War projects are also approaching a time where they are beyond living memory.Fortuitously at Spadeadam the archaeological survey project coincided with an oral history project being undertaken by a local museum to interview people who had worked on the site,or had lived near to it.A further component of the project was work by a visual artist,Louise K.Wilson,who was making a film about Spadeadam including past and present uses of the range;in this instance the archaeologists became part of the story.Such complementary projects can bring greater depth to recording projects by adding different perceptions and bringing in new audiences(Cocroft and Wilson,2006).

The archaeological survey provided a baseline record of the site at a point in time,which may be used to assess its future condition.The investigation also added to the knowledge of the site by revealing unmapped remains of temporary camps built to house the hundreds of construction workers employed to build the establishment and modifications made to the rocket test stands during its operational life.Traces were also found of a prototype hot launch missile silo.This is believed to be the first planned test of this concept in the world.Although the British project was abandoned at an early stage in 1960,the technological concept was transferred to the United States where it influenced the design of the Titan II missile silos.One of these is preserved close to Tucson,Arizona,complete with its missile.