The 2024 Archaeological Achievement Awards celebrated creativity, passion, innovation, and collaboration. Hosted in the vibrant setting of Cardiff, Wales, at the Temple of Peace, the awards shone a spotlight on remarkable projects, teams, and individuals making an outstanding impact in the field of archaeology and heritage.
The evening opened with a warm welcome from Jack Sargeant, Minister for Culture, Skills, and Social Partnership of Wales, who highlighted the transformative power of archaeology in connecting communities and shaping cultural identity, and the importance of engaging young people in heritage.
We were then treated to a thought-provoking guest lecture by Professor Jane Henderson from Cardiff University. Jane challenged the audience to reconsider traditional views of preservation, advocating for a shift from gate-keeping to co-creation. Their inspiring talk explored how embracing the imperfect, the vulnerable, and the evolving, in heritage can foster greater inclusivity and engagement within archaeology.
The ceremony’s host, Welsh literary activist, poet, and author, Rufus Mufasa, brought an extraordinary energy to the evening. To close the event, Rufus shared a breathtaking poem written during the awards ceremony. Reflecting on the evening’s themes of archaeology, art, and community, the poem captured the power of connection and creativity that archaeology can inspire.
Spotlight on the Winners
The awards celebrated achievements across several categories:
Archaeology & Sustainability Award Archaeoleg a Chynaliadwyedd
Sponsored by National Highways.
Winner: Fair Game: Valuing the bio-cultural heritage of fallow deer, University of Exeter
Fair Game demonstrates how archaeological research can provide solutions to contemporary challenges. Fair Game articulates medieval-style principles and archaeological evidence of fallow deer management, processing and venison redistribution, to transform public understanding and sector partnerships and approaches to deer management, creating positive outcomes for biodiversity, climate action and food justice.
Mae Fair Game yn dangos sut y gall ymchwil archaeolegol ddarparu datrysiadau i heriau ein hoes. Mae Fair Game yn rhoi llais i egwyddorion o arddull canoloesol a thystiolaeth archaeolegol o reoli ceirw brithion, prosesu ac ailddosbarthu cig ceirw, er mwyn trawsnewid dealltwriaeth y cyhoedd a phartneriaethau rhwng sectorau a dulliau o reoli ceirw, gan greu canlyniadau cadarnhaol o ran bioamrywiaeth, gweithredu ar yr hinsawdd a chyfiawnder bwyd.
We loved this project because it addressed so many angles, meeting not just the conventional sustainability criteria in a highly innovative way, but by tackling food insecurity it went to the heart of issues of inequality and disadvantage. A collaborative approach drew people in from across the local area, and the revisiting of traditional farming methods tied it all back into sustainable but reliable food production.
- Archaeological Achievement Awards Judges
Public Dissemination or Presentation Award Rhannu Gwybodaeth neu Gyflwyno i’r Cyhoedd
Winner: JustALittleRoo
JustALittleRoo is a free, online access and outreach platform, designed to demystify the transition to higher education as a lower income student, and widen participation in archaeology and related fields. Since 2016, JustALittleRoo has provided free, internationally available careers resources, research tips, insider-views of archaeology and mini-lectures on archaeological topics.
Llwyfan mynediad ac estyn allan ar-lein, rhad ac am ddim ydy JustALittleRoo, sydd â’r bwriad o ddileu rhai o’r dirgelion sydd ynghlwm â chamu i addysg uwch fel myfyriwr incwm is, ac ehangu cyfranogiad mewn archaeoleg a meysydd cysylltiedig. Ers 2016, mae JustALittleRoo wedi darparu adnoddau gyrfaoedd, cynghorion ar gyfer ymchwilio, golwg o’r tu mewn ar archaeoleg a mini-ddarlithoedd ar bynciau archaeolegol am ddim, ac maent ar gael yn rhyngwladol.
Highly Commended:
This is a great example of how a small and targeted project can have such a big social impact and bring archaeology to new audiences.
- Archaeological Achievement Awards Judges
Learning, Training & Skills Award Dysgu, Hyfforddiant a Sgiliau
Sponsored by Archaeological Management Solutions.
Winner: Irchester Field School
An innovative collaboration between North Northants Council (at the Chester House Estate) and the University of Leicester, inspiring and empowering people of all ages to engage in life-enhancing opportunities focused on the small Roman town of Irchester, and the rich archaeology and heritage of the Nene Valley.
Cywaith arloesol rhwng Cyngor North Northants (yn Ystâd Chester House) a Phrifysgol Caerlŷr, yn ysbrydoli ac yn grymuso pobl o bob oed i ymgymryd â chyfleoedd sydd yn gwella eu bywydau drwy ganolbwyntio ar dref Rufeinig fechan Irchester, a chyfoeth archaeoleg a threftadaeth Dyffryn Nene.
This project clearly touched the lives of many different people from school children to volunteers to professionals. There was clear evidence of inspiring and empowering people focussed on the small Roman town of Irchester. Thousands of people benefitted from this project, exemplifying and promoting the role and value of archaeology. Well done!
- Archaeological Achievement Awards Judges
Engagement & Participation Award Ymgysylltu a Chyfranogi
Sponsored by University Archaeology UK.
Winner: Bryn Celli Ddu Public Archaeology Project
GWREIDDIAU (Roots) is the 10th year anniversary of the Bryn Celli Ddu public archaeology project. It is a cross-disciplinary, outdoor arts and heritage project; an opportunity to respond to the Bryn Celli Ddu passage tomb through archaeological excavation, folklore and performance; exploring its histories and ritual using a contemporary lens.
Mae GWREIDDIAU yn nodi 10fed pen-blwydd prosiect archaeoleg cyhoeddus Bryn Celli Ddu. Mae’n brosiect celfyddydau a threftadaeth awyr agored, trawsddisgyblaethol; mae’n gyfle i ymateb i fedd cyntedd Bryn Celli Ddu drwy gloddio archaeolegol, llên gwerin a pherfformiadau, gan ymchwilio i’w hanesion a’i ddefodau drwy lens gyfoes.
Highly Commended:
- Pendinas Hillfort Community Archaeology Project
- Diving into the Digital Archives of the Earl of Abergavenny
Early Career Archaeologist Award Archaeolegwyr ar Ddechrau eu Gyrfa
Sponsored by The Royal Archaeological Institute, this year celebrated two outstanding winners:
Kieran Manchip: Kieran is a Project Officer at Archaeology Scotland where he leads a number of projects including New Audiences. Kieran studied archaeology and history at the University of Glasgow before undertaking a Masters in Conflict Archaeology. He is passionate about the difference archaeology can make to peoples’ lives and their communities.
Mae Kieran yn Swyddog Prosiectau yn Archaeology Scotland ble mae’n arwain nifer o brosiectau, gan gynnwys New Audiences. Astudiodd Kieran archaeoleg a hanes ym Mhrifysgol Glasgow cyn ymgymryd â gradd Meistr mewn Archaeoleg Gwrthdaro. Mae’n llawn angerdd ynglŷn â’r gwahaniaeth y gall archaeoleg ei wneud i fywydau pobl ac i’w cymunedau.
Committed and passionate about engaging new and diverse audiences for Archaeology Scotland’s work, he has undoubtedly contributed to its success. Keiran has shown leadership by developing his skills in sensitivity to different cultural backgrounds, which he has then put into practise and shared in ways that are likely to have a lasting legacy.
- Archaeological Achievement Awards Judges
Rosie Crawford: Rosie completed her undergraduate degree in Archaeology and Anthropology in 2019, her Masters in Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology in 2021, and began working in academic archaeology in 2022.
Cwblhaodd Rosie ei gradd gyntaf mewn Archaeoleg ac Anthropoleg yn 2019, ei gradd Meistr mewn Archaeoleg ac Anthropoleg yn 2021, a dechreuodd weithio ym maes archaeoleg academaidd yn 2022.
The passion for making archaeology accessible comes through strongly in all she does. Rosie has demonstrated leadership through her use of YouTube which clearly attracts a wide audience, others can struggle to reach, including demystifying the university experience for students from low-income backgrounds.
- Archaeological Achievement Awards Judges
Outstanding Achievement Award
Sponsored by Cadw
Winner: Bryn Celli Ddu Public Archaeology Project
This was a fantastic example of a co-produced project, and great efforts were made to engage the participants. It was very well resourced and professionally organised, with a range of experiences for participants, which were strongly embedded in the project, with volunteers being heavily involved throughout the creative process. The crosscutting themes of Health and wellbeing and collaboration were both strongly supported and well explained in the nomination. Overall, this was a very strong, exemplary project with a great legacy and sustainability, which clearly engaged the whole community and on a limited budget.
- Archaeological Achievement Awards Judges
From Rufus Mufasa’s stirring poetry to the outstanding achievements of all the winners and highly commended projects, the ceremony was a reminder of archaeology’s ability to inspire, connect, and create change.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and nominees for their remarkable contributions. Together, they are shaping the future of archaeology in innovative ways that will resonate for generations to come.
You can catch up on the full awards ceremony, discover more about the projects through their introductionary videos, watch Jane Henderson's presentation and Rufus’ poem, all below. Thank you to Heneb for sponsoring the live-stream, making it possible for us to share the awards ceremony live across the UK.
A huge thank you to all of our sponsors and funders for making this celebration possible:
Award Sponsors
Early Career Archaeologist
Learning, Training and Skills Award
Engagement and Participation Award
Archaeology and Sustainability
Outstanding Achievement Award
Booklet Sponsors
AV sponsor
Travel Bursary Sponsor
Official Funders of the Awards
Official Sponsors of the Awards
A special thanks to our judges, everyone involved in organising and supporting the awards, and Bla for their excellent translation throughout the organisation of the awards.
