Archaeological Archives Group





2023 Conference recordings now available

Presentations given during the Archaeological Archives Group and Finds Group day conference in September 2023 are now available to view online here
The Conference Programme can be found here: CIfA Archives and Finds Groups conference programme 2023

Background

The AAG was founded in 2012 following the Southport Report, and since then its membership has increased steadily. The group holds an annual day conference tackling a different issue of archiving each year, as well as running ad hoc workshops. So far the four committees have successfully brought together colleagues from across the sector advising on relevant enquiries both on local and national levels.
The committee have also developed the toolkit for selecting archaeological archives alongside other toolkits

Aims

The aims of the group are

  • to focus upon issues relating to professional standards, best practice, advocacy and access
  • to promote of awareness of archaeological archives within the profession
  • to represent the interest of those working with archives to CIfA Council and in all CIfA activities
  • to hold seminars and workshops to facilitate the above
  • to establish relationships with other groups associated with archaeological archives

Join the Group

Membership is free to CIfA members through the Members area login. Those who are not members of the institute will need to pay an annual £10 fee and can join here

Twitter: follow Archives group on Twitter
Facebook: like the Archives Group on Facebook
Group Email: please email images, events, good news, articles and links to archaeologicalarchives [at] gmail.com

Committee

Theodora Anastasiadou (Chair)
Vikki Sands (Secretary)
Helen Parslow (Treasurer)
Sam Paul
Jess Irwin
Kerry Whitehouse
Jasmine Tomys
Katie Green
Jason Cumberworth
Katherine Hamilton (Advisor)

Committee bios

Theodora Anastasiadou, MCIfA (Chair)
Theodora started her fieldwork career in Greece working for the National Archaeological Service’s (Ministry of Culture) northern regional branches after gaining a B.A. in Archaeology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She has worked in Cyprus via the University’s Cypriot archaeological mission programme and attended one semester in the University of Florence, Italy as an EU ERASMUS student. Her interest in archives starts with the completion of a second (first M.A. is in Greek Archaeology, B’ham) M.A. in Archaeological Heritage Management (York). She has worked as a commercial field archaeologist and at all levels of the archaeological archivist specialisation. She has 23 years of experience having worked for Northamptonshire Archaeology and Museum of London Archaeology in Northampton, being promoted to Head of Archives in 2022.

Vikki Sands, BA Hons, MSc, ACIfA (Secretary)
Vikki worked as a Senior Post-Excavation Assistant for Colchester Archaeological Trust 2021-2024, previously having worked in the museum sector and as a Field Archaeologist for Oxford Archaeology. She has been involved with a variety of tasks including archiving, volunteer and work experience management, public engagement, social media management and events. Currently Vikki is completing her DPhil in History at the University of Oxford.

Helen Parslow, MCIfA (Treasurer)
Helen has been the Archives Officer at Albion Archaeology since 2004. She is responsible for the archiving of the physical, documentary and digital archives. She is also involved in the outreach and helps run the Bedford Young Archaeologists Club. She is also on the committee of the Archaeological Archives Forum.

Dr Sam Paul, PhD, MCIfA
Sam is a freelance heritage and museums consultant (Sam Paul Heritage) specialising in the sustainable development of archaeological archives and museum collections. She has written county-wide guidelines on the transfer and accessioning of archaeological archives for the museums in Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, and most recently, was part of the team reporting to the Arts Council England and Historic England on sustainable national approaches to ensure the future of archaeological archiving in England.

Jess Irwin, BSc Hons, MIoL, MCIfA
Jess is the Archives Manager at Wessex Archaeology, responsible for overseeing the management of the archives team across five national offices. Based in Sheffield she started in archives in 2013 as the finds and archives Supervisor for Wessex North, having previously worked as a field archaeologist in the UK and abroad from 1999. Having become an accredited member in 2015, Jess represents CIfA and the AAG on the OASIS Management Board. Outside of work she loves decorating novelty cakes, reading, and building elaborate Lego constructions with her two children.

Kerry Whitehouse, BA Hons, PGCert, PCIfA
Archaeological Archivist for Worcestershire Archaeology since 2020 and Curatorial Officer/Registrar for Museums Worcestershire since 2016.

Katherine Hamilton, BA (Hons), MLitt, FSA Scot (Advisor)
Katherine has worked in archives at Oxford Archaeology (Cambridge) since 2016, first as Archives Supervisor, and from 2023 as Archives Project Officer; previously working as a field archaeologist in the commercial sector. Her role involves the preparation and deposition of physical and digital archives, liaising with stakeholders, and providing training for inhouse staff and volunteers, amongst other things. Outwith archiving, her interests lie in the early medieval archaeology of Northern Europe and she has spent many summers on research excavations in Northern Scotland and Orkney.

Specialist competence matrix

This specialist matrix is to assist applicants and the Validation committee to see where you demonstrate the grade applied for when working with archives.

Future events

For information about upcoming events, please visit our event calendar.

Previous events

Three-year plan

Group three year plan 2023 - 2026

AGM minutes

AGM Minutes - 28 September 2023 and AGM 2023 recording - watch on playback here.
EGM Minutes - 1 November 2022
AGM Minutes - 28 September 2022

Committee minutes

Minutes 27 November 2024
Minutes 16 January 2024
Minutes 14 Sept 2023
Minutes 18 May 2023
Minutes 18 Jan 2023
Minutes 8 Sept 2022
Minutes 12 May 2022
Minutes 19 January 2022