Although classically considered as encompassing only buried structures and deposits, above-ground structures are also a major part of archaeology. Any human-engineered part of the landscape can be considered archaeological. Such diverse elements as a single coin, the recently completed Second Severn Crossing and the Battle of Lansdown are archaeological elements. Archaeological remains should be seen as a finite and non-renewable resource - in many cases highly fragile and vulnerable to damage and destruction. Appropriate management is therefore essential to ensure that they survive in good condition. In particular, care must be taken to ensure that archaeological remains are not needlessly or thoughtlessly destroyed. They can contain irreplaceable information about our past and the potential for an increase in future knowledge. They are part of our sense of national identity and are valuable both for their own sake and for their role in education, leisure and tourism. The archaeological inheritance is a finite resource which cannot be replaced. In this it is unlike nature conservation where it is possible to create checks and balances in order to regulate the biosphere. Conservation in archaeology must be seen in terms of mitigation with the emphasis on preservation in situ. When considering the archaeological implications of a planning application the first recourse is to the council's Historic Environment Record.