Allocation of Resources 1995-96

Archaeology continues to play a central role in the work of EH in securing the best protection, care, and use of the historic environment, and at the same time contributes significantly to the understanding and enjoyment of our heritage. The importance of this vital role is reflected in the substantial proportion of our budget that is devoted to archaeological work, including the investigation of sites and buildings by survey, the excavation of buried remains, and the archaeological analyses of standing structures, as well as the interpretation of such work, and the publication of the results. We also commission and carry out a wide range of strategic studies to inform future policy.

Commissioned archaeology projects comprise the major component of this varied programme, and include a wide range of different categories of work: project design, evaluation, recording, assessment, and analytical projects (all conducted within the framework outlined in Management of archaeological projects, English heritage, 1991, generally known as MAP2, and often, but not exclusively, related to the excavation and recording of archaeological sites), survey projects, urban archaeology database projects, support for local authority sites and monuments records and associated development control work, Farm Survey Grants, and Presentation Grants. Significant resource is also devoted to programmes of archaeological work carried out by the Central Archaeology Service, and at properties in the direct care of EH, and to the archaeological and analytical recording of buildings and monuments in relation to repair programmes. The Monuments Protection Programme designed to protect a representative sample of archaeological sites in England is a major element of our work, and the provision of funding for the London Planning Advisory Service is also accorded a high priority. In addition to the direct funding of all forms of archaeological projects, considerable resource is allocated to ensure that essential related work is also fully supported. This includes the scientific analyses funded by the Ancient Monuments Laboratory, publication grants for the production of reports on work previously funded by the Department of the Environment or EH, storage grants to house archives, and the provision of training to the archaeological profession, and the employment of archaeological consultants to provide specific advice as required.