Innovation festival SESSION: working practices

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Timetable - see below for abstracts

Innovation and the A14: archaeological strategies from a major infrastructure project
Session chair: Jen Parker Wooding, CIfA

Presentations

Alex Smith, Headland Archaeology

The excavations along the 21km route of the A14 in Cambridgeshire undertaken by MOLA-Headland Infrastructure (MHI) between 2016 and 2018 are among the largest ever carried out in the UK, with archaeological features identified on over 20 sites across 230 hectares. The scale of this project has thrown up many practical and theoretical issues and this short paper highlights some of the techniques and innovations that have been used to tackle them, particularly focussing on the post-excavation programme, which is currently ongoing.

Large projects as a catalyst for meaningful innovation 

Jürgen van Wessel, Headland Archaeology

Using examples from recent large infrastructure schemes in the UK, this paper discusses the benefits and challenges of scale when implementing new ideas in archaeological recording and data management.

Innovation and the Prosumer Revolution
Edward Burton, Magnitude Surveys

Over the last decade, advances in IT and manufacturing technology have opened up access to increasingly advanced tools and methods for innovation. This short paper discusses the opportunities that these ‘prosumer’ technologies can offer to the archaeological community, giving specific examples from Magnitude Surveys’ development of bespoke systems and software.

This presentation explores two case studies, with a focus on addressing the needs of large-scale survey designs and on tailoring surveys to different research questions. Firstly, a modular GPS-positioned magnetometer and EM system, designed to adapt to varying ground conditions while maintaining consistent data quality. Secondly, a lightweight multi-channel GPR system configured for more efficient large-scale data collection in a range of survey environments.

Expedite and upscale – developing approaches to large area archaeological survey
Dave Cowley, Historic Environment Scotland

This paper presents an overview of large-area archaeological survey in the age of big data and Machine Learning exploring the application of automation, AI and Machine Learning in the detection of archaeological sites and features.

A theory of change and evaluative framework for measuring the social impact of public participation in archaeology
Brendon Wilkins, DigVentures

If the ethical justification for public archaeology is broadly settled (the ‘why’), there remains a lack of consensus concerning the tools and methodologies archaeologists should use to measure the social impact of their work (the ‘what’ and ‘how’). Benefits to individuals and communities from public-facing archaeology programmes are often abstract, intangible and difficult to attribute, following a continuum of intrinsic and instrumental outcomes.This paper will introduce a ‘theory of change’ to account for the impact of participatory archaeology programmes, with a ‘standards of evidence’ framework designed to elucidate the causal links between activity and change. Assessing the merits of this strategy with recommendations for future implementation, this paper posits an evaluative frame-work designed to ensure that claims made regarding social impact of public participation in archaeology are as substantively evidenced as conclusions about the past drawn from the excavation itself.

Safeguarding and Boundaries in Community Archaeology
Will Rathouse

Outreach in community archaeology is increasingly focused on underprivileged audiences. Included in amongst these audiences are often vulnerable adults and people who are at increased risk of neglect or abuse. As community archaeologists how do we minimise the risk of harm to the volunteers and audiences we work with? What are our legal duties? How do we address behaviour by volunteers or audience members which puts others at risk?

In this paper I draw from other sectors which are focused on working with vulnerable adults and managing risks to them and explore how safeguarding and professional boundaries practices may be applied to community archaeology especially in projects working with volunteers and audience members who may be vulnerable or at risk.

The benefits of social media in launching grassroots schemes to benefit developer-funded archaeology
Amy Talbot, Arcus Consultancy Services Ltd (an ERM Group Company)

Abstract TBC

Additional information
Registration will close one hour prior to the start of the event. The Zoom link will also be sent out to all registrants one hour prior to the start of the event.

Contact us
If you have any questions at all or require any assistance in registering or accessing this event, please contact the CIfA Events team: conference@archaeologists.net