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'Planning Policy Guidance 16: Archaeology and Planning' doesn't lend itself to snazzy headlines. Nor does it make any discoveries, dig up mummies or make new theories. But it may just be the most important paper to hit archaeology since the Dead Sea Scrolls. PPG 16, as it's known in the trade, deserves to be better known. It's saved some of Britain's most iconic archaeological treasures, and has revolutionalised the way we can hold on to our hidden past. Here's a quick look at the policy, and some effects it has had since its inception in 1990.

Preservation of ancient sites is not a recent issue. You’ve only to look at sites in Egypt and Turkey, and the perilous conditions of worldwide rock art, to see how the long term problems of increased visitors (and hence increased profits) affects an ancient site.

But what happens when an ancient site gets in the way of industry?

The findings from a study released by the Western Australian State Government in February this year found industry emissions from surrounding mining projects in the Burrup Peninsula area did not have an effect on the rock art, which some believe to be around 30,000 years old.