Summary
The Reflections on Archaeology project was launched in early 2016 to celebrate the significant strengths in UK archaeology and honestly reflect on the challenges it needs to tackle if it is to continue to thrive.
Three roundtables entitled What archaeology is, what it does and how it tackles global challenges and global questions, The educational landscape of archaeology across the life course, and Speaking for the discipline were held over 2016 bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders.
Following the roundtables, the project steering group, which consisted of Professor Graeme Barker FBA, University of Cambridge, Professor Charlotte Roberts FBA, Durham University, Professor Christopher Gosden FBA, University of Oxford, Professor Audrey Horning, Queen's University Belfast and the College of William and Mary and Professor Kate Welham, Bournemouth University, Chair, University Archaeology UK, produced a summary ‘Reflections on Archaeology’ report to promote the findings within the subject community and to policy-makers.
The report, published on 29 March 2017, emphasises the need for a single authoritative voice for the discipline and recommends that as a matter of urgency the major stakeholder organisations come together to find a solution to the problem that in its considered view threatens the future health of the discipline.