CIfA has developed a range of Regulations, Standards and guidance that are binding on all members and Registered Organisations to ensure that CIfA members work to high ethical and professional standards. These documents are listed below (all documents in PDF format unless otherwise stated). For a short introduction to some of the Standards and regulations please see the section at the end of this web page.
Regulations
- Code of conduct: professional ethics in archaeology
- Professional conduct
- Regulations for the registration of organisations
- Membership regulations
- Area and Special Interest Groups
- Board of Directors
- Advisory Council
- Regulations for the Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee
- Regulations for the accreditation of degree programmes
- Regulations for the assessment of vocational qualifications
- Regulations governing membership of the Forensic Archaeology Expert Register and Panel (FAEP)
- Procedure at General Meetings
Standards and guidance - overview
The Standards and guidance are currently undergoing a programme of review and update. This includes a new structure where the Standards and guidance are separate documents and the guidance is universal. Below you will find the Standard and universal guidance documents covering archaeological field evaluation, excavation and monitoring and recording in the newly updated format. The rest of the Standards and guidance documents remain in the previous format for the time being. All of these documents regardless of their format are current. For further information about the updates being undertaken see here. If you have any questions please contact Jen - jen.parkerwooding [at] archaeologists.net
Standards - new format (fieldwork documents only)
Please ensure you also consult the supporting universal guidance below.
- Standard for archaeological excavation
- Standard for archaeological field evaluation
- Standard for archaeological monitoring and recording
Universal guidance - new format (fieldwork documents only)
Please ensure you refer to the Standard above.
- Universal guidance for archaeological excavation
- Universal guidance for archaeological field evaluation
- Universal guidance for archaeological monitoring and recording
Standards and guidance - remaining documents
These documents follow the previous format so differ to the newly updated fieldwork documents above. However, they are still current for the area of archaeological practice being undertaken.
- Standard and guidance for archaeological advice by historic environment services
- Standard and guidance for the creation, compilation, transfer and deposition of archaeological archives
- Standard and guidance for the archaeological investigation and recording of standing buildings or structures
- Standard and guidance for the collection, documentation, conservation and research of archaeological materials
- Standard and guidance for commissioning work or providing consultancy advice on archaeology and the historic environment
- Standard and guidance for desk-based assessment
- Standard and guidance for forensic archaeologists
- Standard and guidance for geophysical survey
- Standard and guidance for nautical archaeological recording and reconstruction
- Standard and guidance for stewardship for the historic environment
- Appendices
Toolkits to support Standards and guidance
- Toolkit for specialist reporting
- Toolkit for finds reporting: roman coinage
- Toolkit for recording archaeological materials
- Toolkit for selecting archaeological archives
- Toolkit for managing digital data
- Toolkit for public engagement
Policy statements
- Policy statements(including: Equal opportunities; Health and safety; Volunteers and students on archaeological projects; Use of training posts in archaeological projects; Environmental protection; Acts and offences that may be considered under the professional conduct, membership and registration of organisations; Lay Director)
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) policy
- Statement about dignity and respect for staff and others engaged in CIfA activities
- CIfA and the role of the archaeological advisor to spatial planning and heritage regulators
- Statement of competition law compliance
Health and Safety guidance
Understanding Regulations, Standards, and guidance
Our spotlight articles provided an overview of the requirements in some of our regulations and standards. The full documents are available at the top of this page.
- Spotlight: Code of conduct
- Spotlight: Standards on archaeological advice by historic environment services
- Spotlight: Standard and guidance for commissioning work or providing consultancy advice on archaeology and the historic environment
- Spotlight: Standard and guidance for desk-based assessment
- Spotlight: Professional conduct process
- Spotlight: Standards for written schemes of investigation
