Community Archaeology

CIfA Community Archaeology Group logo
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Committee
Chair
Jess Lowther
Treasurer
Frank Giecco
Secretary
Laura Miucci
Committee member
Rebecca Dolan
Committee member
Sarah-Jane Farr
Committee member
Perry Gardner
Committee member
Emily Johnston
Committee member
Richard McConnell
Advisor
Mike Nevell
Specialist competence matrix

Thank you to those who contributed to our consultation about the competency matrix. The specialist matrix is to assist applicants and the Validation committee to see where you demonstrate the grade applied for when working in community archaeology.

Community archaeology (PDF | 169.65 KB)
Three year plan
A photo of the Community SIG committee members holding a briefcase labelled 'toolkit'

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.

  • To provide a recognised voice within CIfA for furthering the interests of community archaeologists and delivery of community engagement.
  • To embed community engagement in archaeological practice and support its meaningful delivery to the highest standard.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • To promote the adoption and implementation of CIfA Standards, guidance and policy by community archaeologists and the organisations to which they belong.
  • To work with partner organisations and stakeholders across the sector to support and promote community archaeology.
Group recordings and resources

This group session at the CIfA Conference 2019 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.

View the CIfA Conference 2019 page to watch this session, as well as others.

 CIfA Conference 2019 recordings

On Thursday 22 May 2025 we led a discussion titled ‘Public Engagement in Archaeology - Proportional Participation' and explored how we can ensure that engagement strategies are appropriately scaled, inclusive and responsive to the communities we work with by utilising the Toolkit for Public Engagement. We discussed the toolkit component, public benefit and social value and active and passive participation.

You can view the slides for the presentation below.

Community Group tea break talk slides (PDF | 1.89 MB)
Group publications and newsletters
Group meeting minutes and documents

Events

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