Power of Archaeology

Hello,

You may not be aware that earlier this month the Council for British Archaeology launched its new campaign entitled the ‘Power of Archaeology’ as part of its Local Heritage Engagement Network. This new campaign aims to get MPs and local Councillors more closely engaged with archaeology and heritage issues, raise the profile of threats posed by cuts and planning policy reform, and make sure that decision-makers understand what archaeology does for us all and why people care passionately about it.

The south-west region, like others areas of the country, is currently under pressure to meet demands placed on local authority archaeology services due to budget cuts, and national planning policy reforms are threatening to undermine many of the protections that exist to prevent harm to, and create benefit from, archaeological remains discovered through the planning process.

Here at CBA South West we want to raise the profile of this campaign to local societies in the region. We hope to encourage you to help spread the awareness of the campaign, or to join in whichever way you can to help us raise the profile of archaeology with politicians at a local and national level.

We are asking societies just like yours to write to their MP’s, invite them to local events and meetings, attend a local surgery, or send them details of your group and the work you do - anything to make a mark with your representative!

One key aspect of this campaign will be the Festival of Archaeology, which runs from 16^th to 31^st July and features events all over the region, we are encouraging event organisers to invite their local MP’s along. Further details onthe Festival of Archaeology, including finding an event near you or how to get involved, can be found here (http://www.archaeologyfestival.org.uk/whatson).

You can find out about the campaign here (http://new.archaeologyuk.org/the-power-of-archaeology), including guidance for how to contact your MP, and what you can do if you are organising or visiting an archaeological event. It should be known that societies are more than welcome to share and adapt materials from the campaign as they deem appropriate, and are welcome to use the unbranded ‘Power of Archaeology’ resources attached here for their own websites and the hashtag #ArchaeoPower on social media.

If you want to get involved in any way but would like some advice, please contact lhen@archaeologyuk.org, or call 01904 521 417 and someone will be glad to help.

The CBA hopes, that with your support, to be able to capitalise on the contact made in order to highlight issues with upcoming legislation and policy, raising the probability that the sector will, collectively, be able to lobby for appropriate protections to be maintained, and enhancements sought.

Yours faithfully,

Caradoc Peters, Chair, Council for British Archaeology South West

Katie Collins, Secretary, Council for British Archaeology South West