Before any restoration work begins on Trust properties, we undertake research that includes an archaeological assessment of the property and detailed archaeological studies to ensure sufficient documentation has been obtained to guide and direct the restoration. The assessment of a property includes examining the geological history of the property, its physiographic properties (e.g. topography, distance to water, soil) and history of settlement through public records (e.g. census, tax records, land registry). All of this information enables us to determine the potential for finding archaeological resources below ground that are ancient or from the near past. The archaeological and documentary data reveal both changes and continuities on a property over time. This information is key to our understanding of the cultural past of the people who lived on or near our properties.