Puns2

The Public User Needs Survey (PUNS2) builds on a survey first undertaken in 2001 and titled ‘Publication of Archaeological Projects: A user needs survey (PUNS)’. This CBA-led project examined the use of archaeological fieldwork publications by the archaeological community in the UK and was initiated partly in response to a perceived under-use of archaeological project publications and archives, and partly because of uncertainty about what information archaeologists and wider audiences wished to learn from them. Ultimately, the original report produced a series of recommendations which helped shape the production and dissemination of fieldwork publications in the following years. The report was undertaken at a significant moment in archaeological history, in tandem with the development of the Archaeology Data Service and recognised the important role digital data collection and dissemination would play in shaping how we share and access archaeological information today. 

This time, however, the scope of the project will be much broader, encompassing all of the different ways we access and share information today – including social media, open access publications, films and blogs – and targeting a broader range of audiences from professionals, grassroots groups and the wider public.

 

 

We will gather feedback from a diversified audience through a range of digital and non-digital methods with the aim of understanding how audiences currently engage, and want to engage, with archaeological outputs. Consequently, we will arrive at a set of recommendations to use as guidance for those who commission and/or generate archaeological outputs.

A summary of the original PUNS project can be found here: Jones, S., MacSween, A., Jeffrey, S., Morris, R. and Heyworth, M. 2003 From the Ground Up The Publication of Archaeological Projects: a user needs survey. A summary, Internet Archaeology 14. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.14.4.

 

How can I find out more?

 

We will post project updates on this webpage, but you can also keep up to date by signing up to our CBA newsletter!

 

Our Funders and Collaborators 

PUNS2 is led by CBA working in partnership with MOLA. The project is grant funded by Historic England, Historic Environment Scotland, and Cadw, and is being undertaken as part of the 21st Century Challenges in Archaeology project (21 CAP).