The Archaeology Forum (TAF) is a grouping of independent bodies concerned with the archaeological investigation, management, and interpretation of the UK's historic environment - whether buried, built, submerged, in situ, or in museum collections and archives.
The Forum provides an opportunity for institutions to discuss matters of common concern, with the intention of establishing shared positions and promoting clear and consistent messages from archaeological practitioners and stakeholders.
It works in a joined-up manner with others in the historic environment sector through umbrella organisations, such as the Heritage Alliance, the Historic Environment Forum, Built Environment Forum Scotland, and Wales Environment Link.
The Forum supports the work of the All Party Parliamentary Archaeology Group (APPAG) and provides the secretariat function for its Advisory Group. The APPAG is an all-party group of MPs and Peers in the Palace of Westminster with an interest in archaeology, which aims to further the understanding of archaeology in the UK parliament and promote archaeology. The Advisory Group meets bi-monthly and advises on priorities for the APPAG, helps take these forward, and arranges relevant events for its members.
The current Convenor for TAF is Dr Simon Gilmour, Director, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
Secretariat services for TAF are provided by the Council for British Archaeology. For information please contact [email protected].
Forum members meet four times a year with discussion between meetings facilitated through a private email discussion list.
The most recent statement of TAF strategy and priorities can be downloaded below.
Advocacy
Archaeology Enriches Us All is an advocacy document explaining why archaeology matters, how we can make the most of the UK's archaeology, and how TAF members are working to take forward this vision.
Other documents produced by TAF:
- Why Local Authorities Need An Archaeologist - this document sets out the value of local government archaeological services.
- Local Government authority archaeology services: a briefing paper - produced by the forum to inform responses to the Howell/Redesdale Report on the future of local government archaeology services. This briefing was used to accompany the call for evidence for the inquiry (February 2014)
- TAF Marine Policy Statement - the forum's policy positions on the framework of protections for the marine historic environment (April 2015)
The following links to material produced by members of the forum may also be useful:
Forum Members
- Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers
- All Party Parliamentary Archaeology Group
- Archaeology Scotland
- Built Environment Forum Scotland
- Cadw
- Chartered Institute for Archaeologists
- Council for British Archaeology
- FAME
- Historic England
- Historic Environment Division, Northern Ireland
- Historic Environment Forum
- Historic Environment Scotland
- Institute of Historic Building Conservation
- National Trust
- Northern Ireland Environment Link
- Rescue: The British Archaeological Trust
- Society for Museum Archaeology
- Society of Antiquaries of London
- Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
- The Heritage Alliance
- The Institute of Conservation