Our Work

Learn more about the diverse work we carry out at the CBA.

 

This Is Archaeology - The Work Of The CBA

 

Our core work is focused on five key areas of activity which support our membership, deliver our events and projects, underpin our statutory role as a National Amenity Society, support our publications, and deliver our youth engagement programmes. 

 

 Our Five Core Activities

CBA Membership CBA Membership

The CBA has approximately 3,500 members and c.270 organisational members (affiliates). We support 11 CBA groups who co-ordinate and deliver activities and support in their geographic areas.

CBA members: CBA membership is open to anyone with an interest in archaeology. Each member receives a copy of the CBA’s British Archaeology magazine and many attend regular events. Key to our growth is to strengthen and deepen our relationship with members by providing more added-value services of interest to existing members and services that will attract new members from all sections of society.

CBA groups: We support 11 CBA groups in England and Wales, and we work with partner groups in Scotland and Northern Ireland. We support them to provide local information and advice, promote and deliver opportunities for participation, undertake regional research and safeguard heritage.

CBA affiliates: Affiliate members include organisations such as local archaeology societies and other community- based bodies interested in archaeology and heritage. The CBA provides support, guidance, and access to the archaeological community and events.

CBA Events CBA Events

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The CBA co-ordinates and supports an annual Festival of Archaeology. This national event comprises events, talks, digs, and activities designed to appeal to a broad range of people, including those new to archaeology. It celebrated its 31st year in 2021. It is usually a series of events held online and on the ground over a two-week period. In 2021, a total of 505 unique events were delivered by organisers across the UK and the digital reach of the Festival was over 70 million. Our aspiration is to develop CBA’s Festival experience into an annual programme of archaeological events throughout the year.

The Archaeological Achievement Awards, coordinated by the CBA, were relaunched in 2021 to great success. The awards aim to celebrate archaeology across the UK and Republic of Ireland. Likewise, the Marsh Community Archaeology Awards are held each year and celebrate community and youth projects as well as the Community Archaeologist and Young Archaeologist of the Year.

Casework and advocacy Casework and advocacy

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The CBA is one of seven National Amenity Societies whose expertise and role is recognized in statute. Collectively we come together as the Joint Committee of the National Amenity Societies (JCNAS) and act as a key advocacy voice for the historic environment and for heritage. The CBA’s casework team handle over 5,800 listed building applications across England and Wales each year. We use a network of volunteers from a variety of backgrounds to help advise on the impact and suitability of listed building application and development proposals according to legislation, policy, and guidance for safeguarding the historic environment within the planning system.

Through managing the JCNAS database Casework Hub, the CBA allocates and records statutory casework on behalf of the JCNAS, creating and maintaining the publicly accessible records for the seven JCNAS member organisations.

Find out more about the work of our buildings archaeology casework team here.

Publications and Communications Publications and Communications

The CBA publishes British Archaeology, the foremost archaeological magazine in the UK. It brings in-depth news and research on archaeology to a wide audience. It is published six times each year and forms part of the CBA membership offer. It has a circulation of c.7,000 including overseas and subscription circulation.

We also publish specialist books and papers containing important archaeological insights which would otherwise not be published due to their specialised nature and limited print runs. British Archaeology remains our flagship publication and will continue to play an important part in our mission of supporting people to value diverse heritage.

CBA Youth Engagement CBA Youth Engagement

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The CBA’s Young Archaeologists’ Clubs (YAC) make up the CBA’s flagship youth engagement project working with children and young people aged 8-16. The clubs, of which there are over 75, lie at the heart of our work to support youth engagement and early career archaeology. Led by over 500 volunteers and attended by more than 2,000 young people, our YAC groups engage young people with the heritage of their local area through hands-on activities.

Wider youth engagement is, however, central to CBA’s future strategy. Our aspirations are to support young people of all backgrounds and abilities to engage in archaeology to better understand the places where they live in an ambitious programme of youth engagement, collaboration, volunteering, and partnership.

Our Projects

The CBA undertakes a diverse range of projects aimed at promoting and championing archaeology, supporting grassroots archaeologists, and fostering new research. From national festivals to local community initiatives, working with a range of organisations.

Explore our Projects

Groups and Societies

We are supported by our network of local CBA groups and societies across the UK, who carry out a range of activities at a local level: providing advice and information, promoting participation, offering best practice guidance, and more.

Find out more about our Groups

Our funders, sponsors, and supporters

The work of the Council for British Archaeology is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors and funders. Learn more about our sponsors and funders, and see how their support is making a difference.

Find out more

 

More of Our Work 

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British Archaeology Magazine

The CBA's award-winning bi-monthly publication.

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Buildings Archaeology Casework

How we work to Safeguard Listed Buildings and Archaeology

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This is Archaeology Lecture Series

Join us for the latest in archaeological thinking and research

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Youth Engagement

One of our main goals is to help young people engage and participate in archaeology and the heritage around them.

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Publications Archive

Discover work published by the CBA.

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Archaeology Awards

Celebrating the work and projects of archaeologists from across the UK and Ireland.

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Festival of Archaeology

The CBA's annual celebration of archaeology.

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CBA Membership

Take your love of archaeology to the next level and join as a CBA member today!

Support Us 

Become a member of the CBA

Become a member of the CBA

Attend special events featuring world leading archaeologists, receive exclusive access to member only content, benefit from discounts on high end archaeology clothing and equipment, and much more.

Learn more

 

Help us to get more people active in archaeology

Help us to get more people active in archaeology

Together we can create more opportunities for people of all ages to participate in archaeology, and care and campaign for our historic environment. But we need your help.

Donate now

Sign up to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter

Want to find out more about what we do, how you can get involved, and how you can support us? Discover all this and more by signing up to our newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox every month.

Find out more and sign up here

Take part in our events and activities

Take part in our events and activities

The CBA organises a range of events every year, with the aim of encouraging archaeology for all. These include lectures, workshops, research seminars, activity days and question and answer sessions. Through such events, the public can discover how to participate in archaeology and learn new archaeological skills.

Find Out More

 

Volunteer Positions

Volunteer Positions

The CBA is at the heart of Britain’s archaeology community. Our aim is to create opportunities for everyone to partake in archaeology and ensure this fascinating field is accessible to all. We keep you up to date with what is happening in British archaeology, whether you are looking to participate in a dig, join a local archaeological society, or volunteer with us here at the CBA.

Find out more about Volunteering

Subscribe to British Archaeology

Subscribe to British Archaeology

British Archaeology is our award-winning bi-monthly publication, published by the CBA, focusing on the latest archaeology news, discoveries, and research within the UK and from British Archaeologists working overseas. With articles from the CBA team, it is a great way to get to know the work we do.

Subscribe

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