Strategic Collaboration in Archaeological Heritage Management in England

Presentation abstract

Abstract

It has been 35 years since the implementation of Planning Policy Guidance Note 16 which transferred the responsibility for funding archaeological excavations in advance of construction to developers. In that time an archaeological profession has developed which is now routinely integrated with the construction process, applies advanced investigative techniques and sophisticated analytical methods, engages the local public and creates high quality digital and hard-copy outputs. Some £300m per year is spend on archaeology in the UK and some 5-6,000 people are employed. But managing the impacts of this remarkable success is not easy and a number of specific issues need addressing. Historic England, as the Government’s ALB adviser on England’s historic environment, have a role to play in ensuring that strategic issues are addressed so that public benefit can be maximised from the archaeological process.

This presentation will very briefly summarise three strategic programmes which HE leads relating to: the improvement of the professional archaeological practice (21st Century Challenges for Archaeology); the better management of heritage inventories (Heritage Information Access Simplified); and the resolution of the archaeological archives crisis (Future for Archaeological Archives Programme). In the spirit of building bridges, these are all cross-sector collaborative programmes with shared ambitions for positive change.