2026 Archaeological Achievement Awards Shortlist

Farming Rathcroghan integrates sustainable agriculture with archaeological conservation in Ireland’s prehistoric/early historic royal capital of Connacht. It has co-created a results-based payment scheme for farmers, protecting monuments and cultural heritage while enhancing biodiversity, water quality, and carbon storage. This innovative model is resultantly influencing practice across Irish heritage landscapes.

Farming Rathcroghan Website | X | Facebook

Ethos Heritage leads inclusive, environmentally conscious, community-driven archaeological projects. Through hands-on training, education, and cross-cultural exchange, they empower people of all backgrounds to engage with the past, develop new skills, and contribute to heritage preservation. Their work fosters wellbeing, equity, and long-term participation in archaeology.

Facebook | TikTok | Threads | Instagram

Dr Lewis is a Research Associate in the MOBILE Project at Cambridge. As PhD student he was a Cambridge Trust Scholar with the Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC DTP funding. His major achievement is the open access least cost analysis tool (R). Currently he studies the positioning of the Roman forts in Wales.

Melissa Lambe has worked for Heneb: The Trust for Welsh Archaeology (and formerly for Gwynedd Archaeological Trust GAT) for 3 years as one of the Historic Environment Records officers in the Gwynedd office. Prior to that she studied History, Heritage and Archaeology at Bangor University. Melissa volunteered for the GAT HER during her studies and we’re so glad to have her on board as a valued member of the Heneb team. You might also spot Melissa out and about in Caernarfon where she offers guided walks and tours.    

Kayleigh successfully completed her Archaeological Technician Apprenticeship Level 3 with the Changing Chalk Project in May. This represented a career change into Archaeology having previously worked at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and in Human Resources in a Chiropractors. She has worked with the Changing Chalk project since she passed her Apprenticeship.

The project undertook Britain’s first ever archaeological excavation of a historic Romany Gypsy site. The project was run by Romany people and worked alongside disadvantaged Romany people to uncover the story of the Britain’s ‘Gypsy Compound’ and ‘Gypsy Rehabilitation Centre’ systems, sites of forced assimilation than existed until 1979. 

Volunteers at Stanwick Lakes worked alongside Ancient Craft to bring prehistory to life through an ambitious heritage initiative. Using replica Bronze Age tools, volunteers carved and launched dugout boats. From timber selection to launch event planning, they led every step, sharing their learning journey with visitors throughout. 

Facebook: AncientCraft UK | Prehistoric Jewellery | Stanwick Lakes 

Instagram: AncientCraft UK | Prehistoric Jewellery | Stanwick Lakes

X: AncientCraft UK | Prehistoric Jewellery | Stanwick Lakes

A project exploring people’s connections to jewellery inspired by the ‘Cossington necklace’ discovered in the grave of a child from the Early Bronze Age in the small village of Cossington in Leicestershire. Art workshops, digital storytelling, Museum talks and community co-creation culminated in a unique exhibition at Charnwood Museum.  

Culture Leicestershire | Charnwood Museum | Frock Box

Teffont Archaeology Project is a long running landscape and excavation research project in south-west Wiltshire which also encompasses work co-directed with our volunteers (Coombe Bissett with Alyson Tanner) or collaborators (Chalke Valley villa with Chalke and Chase Landscape Partnership). We place inclusion and training at the forefront of our work. 

BlueSky

Guerilla Archaeology (GA) is a collective of archaeologists, artists, scientists, and crafters, who use the past to inspire and challenge to think differently. Since 2011, GA has delivered over 65 creative activities, stands and workshops, rooted in archaeological research, at music festivals, heritage sites, community hubs, shopping and arts centres. 

Facebook | Instagram

Oxford Archaeology’s Training Pathways combine formal instruction with on-the-job learning across six programmes, supporting progression from Apprentice to Project Officer. With over 500 careers launched and over 40% of site leads emerging from the Graduate Trainee programme, these programmes are a proven model for developing skilled professionals in commercial archaeology. 

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The project was to directly engage with Womens Tec , Belfast to encourage women to consider carers in Construction Heritage Skills. The events took place on 3rd July and 14th October 2024 in the run up to the launch of DfC HEDs Conservation Works Team apprentice recruitment drive.

Love Heritage NI | Belfast | Facebook

Teffont Archaeology Project is a long running landscape and excavation research project in south-west Wiltshire which also encompasses work co-directed with our volunteers (Coombe Bissett with Alyson Tanner) or collaborators (Chalke Valley villa with Chalke and Chase Landscape Partnership). We place inclusion and training at the forefront of our work. 

BlueSky

Volunteers at Northamptonshire’s Archaeological Resource Centre are helping unlock the stories of over 1,000 ancient skeletons. Trained in osteoarchaeology, they are working to catalogue remains, identify pathologies, and support ground-breaking research. Their efforts have transformed public and researcher access and engagement with previously inaccessible archives, making new discoveries and facilitating deep partnerships with Universities. 

Students on the UCL Institute of Archaeology BA Archaeology with Placement Year learn what it’s like to work full-time in the archaeology sector. Through a tailored programme of varied and innovative training they gain practical experience in fieldwork, survey, specialist analysis, and all commercial archaeology processes from tender to archive. 

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | BlueSky

The Hertfordshire LEADS Historic Environment Placement Programme gives commercial archaeologists from across the UK an immersive month inside a local planning authority team. Participants shadow specialists, gain hands-on experience in planning and heritage advice, and develop skills to bridge commercial and public archaeology, opening new pathways into the profession and especially this under resourced and valued sector

A diverse, annually evolving programme of exciting activities and events centred on a community excavation of the former Guinness mansion of St Anne’s. It includes training programmes for transition year (TY) students and tour guides, educational tours for schools, public lectures, community-led post excavation and public outreach events.    

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Career in Ruins is a leading UK archaeology podcast and multimedia content creator where professionals and enthusiasts discuss heritage, discovery, and the realities of working in archaeology. With global listeners, the show uses humour, expert interviews, and storytelling to make archaeology engaging and accessible to all.   

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The rediscovering High Angle Battery project breathes new life into Portland’s historic Victorian fort, blending heritage restoration with community stories, art, and a diverse range of events—transforming a forgotten monument into a vibrant cultural destination. 

Dorset Council | B-Side Festival

Stratmates is a social media video series created by Meg Russell and Jon Milward to engage the public and early career archaeologists with best practices in archaeology and on-site culture. It was designed to provide bite-sized, informative archaeology content to educate interested viewers in commercial, research and community excavations and has expanded to encompass post-excavation processes, daily archaeologist life and the experiences of students and volunteers at Bournemouth University.   

megs_digs | buarc_archaeo

People, Pots and Places attempts to enhance local knowledge of place and prehistory, through the medium of replica pottery of the Irish Neolithic and Bronze Age. The project engages and informs local people about prehistory on their doorstep. Replica pottery can provide a tactile and visual experience which is usually not possible with original pottery artefacts. This tactile experience can help to personalise the past, create a sense of rootedness and community connection, and encourage local people to value and protect the ancient heritage in their homeplace.