Participating in the Past: Developer Funding and the Exclusion of Non-Professionals

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6.12 Developer Funding and the Exclusion of Non-Professionals

The constraints of commercial archaeology have led to exclusion of the public from much archaeological fieldwork, and in particular from active participation. The reasons for this have included health and safety concerns, insurance, timetables, and developer resistance. It is in the interest of all parties that the broad public interest in fieldwork should be more clearly recognised both in terms of informing the public about its execution and directly involving the public where possible.

In relation to public participation in fieldwork it is noted that the IFA’s policy statement The use of volunteers and students on archaeological projects is lukewarm on the use of volunteers on excavations unless ‘the full extent of their activities in respect of the services offered [must] be declared and included in the submitted written project proposals’. Behind this policy lay a desire to protect full-time low-paid site workers – many of whom in the past had no employment contracts from exploitation. This document needs to be reviewed. Encouragement also needs to be given to some commercial organisations to change their practice (IFA 2002, 17) and to national governments to recognise the public interest issue.

  • Recommendation 25: The new Planning Policy Statement on Planning for the Historic Environment should recognise that there is a public interest issue in archaeological excavation and other fieldwork.
  • Recommendation 26: Local authority archaeologists through the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers (ALGAO) should agree a clause to be included in briefs which they issue requiring arrangements to be made for a level of community participation and access.
  • Recommendation 27: Archaeological contractors should respond by including public participation provision in project designs.
  • Recommendation 28: The IFA should review its ‘Use of volunteers’ guidance note in order to produce a more positive attitude to the voluntary sector.
  • Recommendation 29: Local authority archaeologists and contractors should liaise with museums to mount temporary displays and outreach activities relevant to ongoing fieldwork.
  • Recommendation 30: Local Planning archaeologists should advise the public on a regular basis, of fieldwork taking place within their authority area (eg through a web site). Execution of this might be considered as a local performance indicator.