Department to Host Community Archaeology Bursary Places



The Department for Continuing Education has been chosen as one of ten organisations across England, Scotland and Wales to host community archaeology bursary recipients, as part of the Council for British Archaeology's (CBA) Community Archaeology Bursaries Project.

Bursary places are aimed at providing on-the-job training for individuals to increase their skills and knowledge of working with communities and volunteers. The bursaries will consist of funded places over three years, and will be offered from early 2012.

Organisations which, like the Department, have an established track-record in delivering support to communities with an interest in archaeology will host the bursary places. The project is supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Funds Skills for the Future programme.

Individuals from any background who can demonstrate sound archaeological knowledge and experience and who wish to go on to pursue a career in archaeology specifically in the area of developing communities and volunteers are welcome to apply.

The ten organisations who will host this year's 27 funded places are:

England

  • Oxford University Department for Continuing Education
  • Norfolk Historic Environment Service
  • Canterbury Archaeological Trust
  • Wessex Archaeology

Scotland

  • Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland

Wales

  • Cadw
  • Dyfed Archaeological Trust
  • Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust
  • Gwynedd Archaeological Trust
  • Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales

The collaborative approach between the CBA and host organisations supports the good practice that already exists among organisations which are working with communities, and aims to increase the number of individuals who have the skills and knowledge in community engagement with archaeology.

Dr David Griffiths, Oxford University Lecturer in Archaeology and Head of the East Oxford Project said: "The East Oxford project and the Department are delighted to have been selected as a host for a CBA bursary. This will enable us to extend the remit of the current project in 2012-13, and will provide a vital career opportunity for someone to join in this ground-breaking outreach and research work, which the University is doing with the East Oxford community."

Details of the bursaries offered for the second year of the project and how to apply will be advertised on the CBA website in due course, and information on the current hosts and trainees can be found at http://www.britarch.ac.uk/community/bursaries. Those interested in instant updates about the project can also email bursaries@britarch.ac.uk to be added to the project mailing list.

Published 19 August 2011