Background
The Community Archaeology Group (CAG) was originally established in 2011 as Voluntary and Community Archaeology Special Interest Group. We consider community engagement to be an integral part of professional archaeological practice and should be embedded in project design and delivery. Community engagement is a critical aspect of delivering public benefit through archaeology. The role of community archaeologists (paid or unpaid) is fundamental in this process.
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To provide a recognised voice within CIfA for furthering the interests of community archaeologists and delivery of community engagement.
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To embed community engagement in archaeological practice and support its meaningful delivery to the highest standard.
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To advise the Board of Directors and its Advisory Council and committees on issues relating to community archaeology and engagement, both within the context of CIfA and within the discipline of archaeology.
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To provide guidance to ensure that community archaeologists (and the organisations to which they belong), have the competence to carry out their roles to the highest possible standards.
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To promote the adoption and implementation of CIfA Standards, guidance and policy by community archaeologists and the organisations to which they belong.
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To work with partner organisations and stakeholders across the sector to support and promote community archaeology.
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 @VolComArch on Twitter
Facebook: like our Facebook page
Blog: check out our blog
Committee
Jess Lowther (Chair)
Nina O'Hare (Secretary)
Frank Giecco (Treasurer)
Dickie Bennett
Sarah-Jane Farr
Perry Gardner
Emily Johnston
Richard McConnell
Mike Nevell
James Brown (Advisor)
Specialist competence matrix
Thank you to those who contributed to our consultation about the competency matrix.
This specialist matrix is to assist applicants and the Validation committee to see where you demonstrate the grade applied for when working in community archaeology.
Forthcoming events
For information about upcoming events, please visit our event calendar.
Resources
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**Report on the Local Planning Authority Public Benefit Survey 2021 (PDF)
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Community Archaeologist survey report (PDF). This report comes from a survey of community archaeologists responses taken to inform the group's strategy over the next few years.
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How can we improve the legacies of archaeological community engagement in place making? Group session at CIfA2019.
This session explored how we can improve the community engagement aspect of archaeological investigations to maximise the potential for sustained engagement with local communities and to build long lasting, positive legacies. We are interested in hearing about attempts to do this from across the heritage sector. You can watch this session as well as others from CIfA2019 here.
AGM minutes
Committee meeting minutes
Committee meeting 6 November 2023
Committee meeting 14 September 2023
Committee meeting 9 August 2023
Committee meeting 24 May 2023
Committee meeting 21 January 2022
Committee meeting 8 March 2022
Committee meeting 27 May 2022
Committee meeting 21 July 2022
Three-year plan
Coming soon.
