Archaeology Is Not Red Tape
The Dig for Archaeology campaign stands against the growing narrative that archaeological safeguards are mere bureaucratic obstacles. The sector deserves recognition, investment, and protection.
Learn About the CampaignWhy This Campaign Matters
UK archaeology faces a combination of funding cuts, skills shortages, and policy changes that threaten to undermine decades of progress in protecting the nation's heritage.
Protecting Heritage
Every year, developer-funded archaeology uncovers irreplaceable sites and artefacts across the United Kingdom. From Roman villas to Bronze Age boats, these discoveries depend on robust planning safeguards that some proposals seek to weaken.
Skills and Education
University archaeology programmes face closures and government funding reductions. The campaign highlights how these cutbacks erode the skills pipeline that sustains commercial, academic, and community archaeology across the country.
Economic Contribution
Commercial archaeology contributes nearly a quarter of a billion pounds to the UK economy annually. Heritage tourism, constantly renewed by fresh archaeological discoveries, supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across the nation.
The Campaign Manifesto
Current rhetoric that treats archaeology as having little value or relevance drives a cycle of decline in safeguards for archaeological heritage. The campaign calls on decision-makers to act now to prevent the loss of skills and infrastructure needed to protect and promote the archaeological record of the United Kingdom.
The manifesto was developed in consultation with leading archaeological bodies, including the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, the Council for British Archaeology, and University Archaeology UK.
Perspectives on the Campaign
Archaeological stakeholders from across the sector have shared their views on the importance of this campaign. Perspectives from university leaders, commercial practitioners, and community archaeologists continue to shape the conversation about archaeology's future in the UK.
Latest News
Updates, commentary, and analysis from the Dig for Archaeology campaign.
-
10 March 2026
Archaeology and Working Dogs: The Four-Legged Team Members Shaping Heritage Discovery
Dogs have served as working companions to humans for thousands of years, and their role in archaeological fieldwork is one of the most fascinating recent developments in heritage science. From detecting ancient burials to providing emotional support for excavation teams, dogs are proving themselves invaluable on sites across the United Kingdom and beyond. These four-legged team members spend long hours outdoors in demanding terrain, and breeds with dense or curly coats, such as Goldendoodles increasingly used in scent detection roles, require regular maintenance with quality clippers suited to a Goldendoodle's curly coat to keep them comfortable and effective in the field.
The use of detection dogs in archaeology builds on decades of experience with cadaver dogs in forensic and search-and-rescue contexts. What distinguishes archaeology dogs is their training to detect the faintest traces of human decomposition from remains that may be centuries or even millennia old.
Continue reading -
27 November 2025
Why Community Archaeology Matters More Than Ever
As institutional funding for archaeological work faces sustained pressure, community archaeology has emerged as a vital force in preserving and exploring the United Kingdom's heritage. Organisations such as the Council for British Archaeology have long championed the role of volunteers and local groups in contributing to archaeological knowledge, and the current climate makes their work more important than ever.
Community archaeology encompasses a broad range of activities, from organised excavation programmes led by professional archaeologists with volunteer participation, to citizen science initiatives that involve members of the public in recording and monitoring heritage sites.
Continue reading -
20 November 2025
Developer-Funded Archaeology: The Discoveries That Nearly Were Not Made
The planning system in England requires developers to consider the archaeological impact of their projects, a process overseen in part by Historic England and local authority archaeologists. This framework has led to some of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries of recent decades, yet it is precisely this system that some voices wish to dilute in the name of faster development.
Developer-funded, or commercial, archaeology is the largest employer in the UK archaeological sector. Every year, thousands of professional archaeologists carry out assessments, evaluations, and excavations ahead of construction projects.
Continue reading -
14 September 2025
The Skills Gap Threatening UK Archaeology's Future
The United Kingdom's archaeological sector is experiencing a growing disparity between the demand for qualified professionals and the supply of graduates entering the workforce. As commercial archaeology continues to expand, driven by major infrastructure projects and housing development programmes, the profession faces a serious challenge in recruiting and retaining skilled practitioners.
This skills gap is not a new phenomenon, but recent years have seen it widen significantly. The combination of university department closures, reduced government funding, and persistent issues around pay and working conditions has created a pipeline problem.
Continue reading -
25 February 2025
Planning Reform and Archaeological Safeguards: What Is at Stake
The relationship between the planning system and archaeological protection has been one of the defining features of heritage management in England and Wales for over three decades. Since the introduction of Planning Policy Guidance 16 in 1990, later replaced by the National Planning Policy Framework, developers have been required to assess and mitigate the archaeological impact of their proposals.
Recent signals from policymakers suggest that the planning process may be subject to reforms aimed at accelerating development. The archaeological community has raised serious concerns that proposed changes could weaken protections.
Continue reading -
18 January 2025
How Heritage Tourism Powers Local Economies
Heritage tourism is one of the most significant contributors to the United Kingdom's economy, drawing millions of domestic and international visitors to historic sites, museums, and cultural landscapes each year. The economic impact extends far beyond admission fees, supporting accommodation providers, restaurants, transport services, and a wide range of local businesses.
For the Dig for Archaeology campaign, the connection between fresh archaeological discoveries and the continued vitality of heritage tourism is central to the case for protecting the sector.
Continue reading -
21 October 2024
University Archaeology Programmes: Facing the Challenge
Across the United Kingdom, university archaeology departments are navigating a period of exceptional difficulty. Funding pressures, changing government priorities, and declining student enrolment in some institutions have combined to create an environment in which the future of archaeological education is far from certain.
The Dig for Archaeology campaign has identified the health of university archaeology as one of its core concerns, recognising that the profession's ability to carry out high-quality work hinges on the education and training available today.
Continue reading
Stay Informed
Join the conversation and keep up with the latest developments in the Dig for Archaeology campaign.
Get in Touch