Wessex Archaeology

Wessex Archaeology is a British organisation providing archaeological, heritage and related research services. It operates both as a commercial provider of professional archaeological work and as an educational charity whose stated purpose is to advance public education in culture, the arts, heritage and science through archaeology. Its work covers advice and consultancy, field investigation, post-excavation analysis, reporting and the publication or dissemination of research generated by archaeological projects. The organisation began in 1979 as the Wessex Archaeological Committee. Its early work was associated particularly with rescue archaeology in and around Salisbury Plain, an area containing a dense and internationally important archaeological record. The organisation was established during a period when development and infrastructure projects were generating an increasing need for systematic archaeological investigation before sites were disturbed or destroyed. In 1983, it adopted the name Trust for Wessex Archaeology, reflecting its developing institutional and charitable identity. Wessex Archaeology later grew alongside the expansion of developer-funded archaeology in the United Kingdom. Planning guidance, including PPG 16 and its successor PPS5, helped establish archaeological assessment and mitigation as regular elements of the planning and development process. This environment broadened the demand for archaeological surveys, evaluations, excavations, watching briefs, heritage assessments and related technical services. In 2005, the organisation became Wessex Archaeology Limited and continued trading under the Wessex Archaeology name. Its geographic reach expanded beyond its original Wessex base. The organisation established offices in Gravesend and Sheffield, opened a Scottish office in Edinburgh in 2010, and added regional offices in Welshpool and Bristol in 2014. Its activities also include a substantial marine-archaeology capability, extending its work from terrestrial sites to archaeological remains and heritage questions in coastal and underwater environments. Wessex Archaeology’s public-facing role is reinforced by its research and information-sharing activities. Results from its investigations are deposited with local authorities through the Archaeology Data Service’s OASIS system, and reports can be made available through its online library. This links commercial archaeological work with the broader archaeological record and supports access by researchers, heritage professionals and the public. The organisation is a Chartered Institute for Archaeologists Registered Organisation, a professional designation indicating that it operates within recognised standards for archaeological practice. It has also maintained a long association with the archaeological television programme Time Team; Phil Harding, a field archaeologist known for appearing on the programme, works for Wessex Archaeology. Overall, Wessex Archaeology is positioned as a multidisciplinary archaeological and heritage-services provider with a UK-wide presence, a strong fieldwork and research tradition, and an explicit educational and charitable dimension.

Wessex Archaeology was established in 1979 as the Wessex Archaeological Committee. Its formation belonged to the development of rescue archaeology in Britain, when archaeological remains threatened by construction and other land-use changes increasingly required investigation, recording and mitigation. The organisation focused particularly on sites in and around Salisbury Plain, an area with an unusually rich archaeological landscape. In 1983, the organisation changed its name to the Trust for Wessex Archaeology. The new name reflected its continuing development as a charitable and educational body while retaining its regional identity. Its work combined practical archaeological investigation with the creation and communication of knowledge about the past. The organisation subsequently expanded as developer-funded archaeology became an established part of the UK planning system. Planning guidance such as PPG 16, followed by PPS5, encouraged or required archaeological assessment and appropriate mitigation in connection with development. This created a larger market for professional archaeological organisations able to undertake desk-based assessments, field evaluations, excavations, monitoring, analysis and reporting. Wessex Archaeology expanded its commercial operations across the United Kingdom in response to these conditions. Its growth included offices in Gravesend and Sheffield. In 2010, it opened an office in Edinburgh, extending its presence into Scotland. The organisation also developed a significant marine archaeology department, giving it expertise beyond land-based archaeological projects. Further regional offices were opened in Welshpool and Bristol in 2014. A corporate restructuring or legal-name change took place in 2005, when the organisation became Wessex Archaeology Limited and continued to trade as Wessex Archaeology. The trading name remained associated with archaeological consultancy, fieldwork, heritage services and research. Its work has included the investigation of archaeological sites and the publication or dissemination of results from those investigations. The organisation’s charitable aims remain focused on public education in culture, arts, heritage and science through archaeology. Findings from its projects are lodged with local authorities through the Archaeology Data Service’s OASIS system, while reports can be accessed through its online library. These arrangements help connect project-based archaeological work with local authority records, professional research and public knowledge. Wessex Archaeology is a Registered Organisation of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists. It has also had a long association with Time Team, the archaeological television programme. Phil Harding, who appeared on the programme, works for the organisation. Through its combination of commercial services, research, data sharing, public education and charitable status, Wessex Archaeology has developed from a regional rescue-archaeology committee into a multi-office UK archaeological and heritage-services organisation.

• 2014

  Opened offices in Welshpool and Bristol

  [1]Wessex Archaeologyen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation added regional offices in Welshpool and Bristol, further extending its UK operating network.

• 2010

  Opened an Edinburgh office

  [1]Wessex Archaeologyen.wikipedia.org

  Wessex Archaeology established a Scottish office in Edinburgh as part of its expansion across the United Kingdom.

• 2005

  Became Wessex Archaeology Limited

  [1]Wessex Archaeologyen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation changed its legal name to Wessex Archaeology Limited and continued trading under the Wessex Archaeology name.

• 1983

  Renamed the Trust for Wessex Archaeology

  [1]Wessex Archaeologyen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation adopted the name Trust for Wessex Archaeology as its archaeological, educational and charitable activities developed.

• 1979

  Creation as the Wessex Archaeological Committee

  [1]Wessex Archaeologyen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation was founded as the Wessex Archaeological Committee, initially concentrating on rescue archaeology in and around Salisbury Plain.

A UK-wide archaeological and heritage-services organisation combining commercial development support, specialist fieldwork, marine archaeology, research, public education and charitable objectives.

• Professional services

  Archaeological consultancy

  Advice and consultancy supporting the identification, assessment and management of archaeological and heritage issues. This work forms part of the developer-funded archaeological process and can inform planning, mitigation and decisions about how sites should be investigated or preserved.

• Archaeological services

  Terrestrial archaeological fieldwork

  Field-based investigation of archaeological sites, including evaluation, excavation and other forms of recording. The organisation’s origins in rescue archaeology and its work around Salisbury Plain provide the historical foundation for this service area.

• Specialist archaeological services

  Marine archaeology

  Investigation and assessment of archaeological remains in marine and coastal environments. Wessex Archaeology has a substantial marine archaeology department, extending its capabilities beyond land-based archaeological work.

• Research and education

  Research reports and archaeological publications

  Analysis, reporting and publication of results from archaeological investigations. Reports can be accessed through the organisation’s online library, while project results are also lodged with local authorities through the Archaeology Data Service’s OASIS system.

1. 1Wessex Archaeologyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Wessex Archaeology official websitewessexarch.co.uk