"Archaeology under threat in UK: 'Perfect storm' of proposed cuts throws
field into crisis"
 
UK archaeologists are facing a wave of cuts that they say will lead to a
loss of skills and take the teaching of the subject "back to the 1950s".

See: http://www.nature.com/news/2010/101126/full/news.2010.634.html

You can keep up with some of the specific threats facing the heritage
sector via the Rescue online map at
http://www.rescue-archaeology.org.uk/map2/

But is it all gloom? Are there still opportunities to grasp? Here is a
short note I wrote recently to summarise the current situation. The CBA
would welcome comments and thoughts on how we face up to the current
challenges:

Stay positive and look to the future (as well as the past)

The Lord Chancellor (The Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP) recently stated on
behalf of the UK Government that "We recognise the valuable contribution
that archaeologists make to the study of human history". Unfortunately
that recognition has not prevented a combination of factors linked with
the current economic climate giving real cause for concern for the
future of the practice of archaeology across the UK.

Current concerns include:
- major cuts in funding for the national heritage bodies
- large scale reductions in funding for universities - with a
significant drop in archaeology students last year and further decline
predicted in the future
- continuing education provision sharply declining which has
traditionally provided essential training and learning for the voluntary
sector in archaeology
- crucial local authority services being dramatically cut that are
fundamental to ensuring archaeology is properly considered in
development planning and the management of the broader historic
environment
- the national networks of Historic Environment Records built up over
decades are at risk
- an archaeological archives and storage crisis for museums which means
many archaeological businesses have nowhere to deposit archaeological
material from excavations
- and indeed many archaeological businesses themselves are under threat
of folding as the demand for development-led archaeology sharply
declines, losing valuable trained professionals (with their skills) to
other occupations.

Despite an apparently gloomy picture, the news is by no means all bad
and at a time when, across the country, many other activities are being
just as severely affected we need to think to the future. We can still
point to some real positives for archaeology and the heritage sector:

- funding for the Heritage Lottery Fund will increase in future years
- public awareness of the heritage and membership of key organisations
such as  English Heritage, the National Trust and the Council for
British Archaeology (CBA) continues to grow
- the value of heritage to our vital tourist economy and to regeneration
is recognised - people come here for Britain's archaeology and people
holiday at home to enjoy it
- the enormous growth in recent years of community and local archaeology
- CBA's research shows an astonishing growth, with over 2000 groups
working for the archaeological heritage and as many as 200,000
individuals
- the Coalition government's focus on localism strengthens the value of
a local sense of place and people's passion for their heritage
- the Prime Minister's idea of the Big Society - that we are all
entrusted with the care of what matters in society and the environment -
is one that we wholeheartedly embrace in archaeology and have long
worked with
- for the first time this year we have a cross-Governmental vision for
the historic environment in England which the new Government has
endorsed in principle
- and we have a new policy statement for planning and the historic
environment in England with an exceptionally forward-looking objective
for archaeology that planning should "contribute to our knowledge and
understanding of our  past by ensuring that opportunities are taken to
capture evidence from the historic environment and to make this publicly
available". 

The CBA's new strategy, launched in the House of Lords in November, is
all about "Making Archaeology Matter". What matters now, more than ever,
is that we engage people themselves to safeguard the archaeological
interest in their locality. The CBA sees archaeological stewardship and
active participation at the heart of what we do with, and through, our
members - in education and research, with young people, in community
archaeology and in all our advocacy work for archaeology - whether that
is safeguarding historic buildings, reforming the Treasure Act,
campaigning to protect the rural heritage or deriving maximum public
value from development-led archaeology.

The whole archaeological sector needs to work together, with new and
innovative collaborations creating stronger future partnerships, to
support even greater public involvement and action. We should look ahead
to the archaeological discipline of the future and lay the foundations
of a strong, appropriately rewarded and highly-skilled profession,
working closely with an active community and voluntary sector. The CBA
is ready to play a leading role and we look forward to working with a
wide range of partners, and our expanding membership, to ensure that the
archaeological heritage of the UK is safeguarded and appreciated in the
future.

Mike Heyworth
CBA Director

Please show your support for protecting the UK's archaeological heritage
and join the Council for British Archaeology today. Visit
www.britarch.ac.uk/join.

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Dr Mike Heyworth MBE, Director, Council for British Archaeology
St Mary's House, 66 Bootham, York YO30 7BZ, UK 
tel 01904 671417, fax 01904 671384, web www.britarch.ac.uk
A Company Limited by Guarantee, registered in England 1760254 &
Registered Charity 287815. Join CBA/YAC at www.britarch.ac.uk/join
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