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  • Fencing and Security of Archaeological Excavations – A FAME H&S Guide

    Archaeological organisations have a duty of care to prevent danger arising from their work. In the United Kingdom, this is enforced through the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA) and in Ireland, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (as amended) (SHWWA). The focus is often on the archaeologists, but we, archaeologists, need to consider ensuring the work area and excavations do not pose a risk to others who may come onto the site as visitors or trespassers.

    In construction, fencing is usually addressed by a client or Principal Contractor (PC) if the project falls within the CDM regulations in the UK. In Ireland, if the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations (Amended 2021) (SHWWCR) apply, then it is the responsibility of the Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS). However, most stand-alone archaeology projects are not subject to CDM in the UK (see FAME Health & Safety Technical Guide 0), and this guide is intended for situations where the archaeology organisation has to make the fencing decisions.

    The FAME Health and Safety Working Group creates our Health and Safety Guides to provide detailed practical advice to our members and for the archaeological sector. You can download the guide below. They rarely change but occasional updates do occur and it is best to check this page for the most recent version.

    FAME Guide – Fencing and Security of ExcavationsDownload

  • Development-led archaeology Health and Safety statistics 2022-23

    A goal of FAME’s Health & Safety strategy is to assemble industry injury and accident data to assist with the development of preventative measures and improved ways of working. This is FAME’s sixth Health and Safety Injury Survey; the first was for the 2009-10 financial year, and since 2018-19 we have undertaken these surveys annually. This report covers the financial year 2022-23, and only covers archaeologists working in the UK. Some key findings:

    1. Archaeology has lower RIDDOR accident rates than the construction industry.
    2. £8.1 million is lost each year in development-led archaeology to ill health, injury and stress.
    3. Near misses – are under-reported in the sector.

    The full report:

    FAME Health and Safety Injury Survey 2022-23 Version 1.0Download

  • The FAME carbon calculator for archaeology

    FAME has commissioned the creation of, and will then make freely available, a carbon calculator tool that will allow archaeology organisations to:

    1. record their greenhouse gas emission baseline figures;
    2. report emissions to clients and other stakeholders (by project, period or location);
    3. make and track reduction plans towards net zero emissions.

    This will ensure that all working in the archaeological industry are recording and reporting these data consistently. While, we are still in the process of creating this free tool, we have published a article in The Archaeologists with more details on this project. Read it here:

    The FAME carbon calculator TA124Download

  • New Draft Resource for Those Involved in Preparing and Transferring Archaeological Archives for England

    FAME have been pushing for years for a new system for transfer of title of archaeological finds, especially orphan archives, so we are very happy to inform you about a new draft resource for preparing and transferring Archaeological Archives for England. FAME contributed to the development of the guidance to help find a solution for archive deposition and the new resource can be found here:

    https://collectionstrust.org.uk/resource/toolkit-for-managing-the-ownership-of-archaeological-finds-in-england/

    “The Toolkit for Managing the Ownership of Archaeological Finds in England is designed as an important new resource for individuals involved in the management, recovery, and archival of archaeological materials. It offers guidelines to ensure the secure and legal transfer of ownership of archaeological material, thereby supporting effective archival practices and planning policy. The toolkit consists of a model deed of transfer and guidance covering principles of ownership, advice on transferring ownership of the material archive, procedures for arranging transfer of ownership, guidance for planners, landowners and planning applicants/developers and guidance where landowner consent cannot be obtained.

    The toolkit has been developed by Historic England (derived from Queens Counsel legal advice) as part of the Future for Archaeological Archives Programme. It has benefited from initial advice from members of the programme’s Advisory Panel.”

    The Toolkit includes a Model Deed of Transfer and sections on:

    • Ownership: the principles of ownership of archaeological finds
    • Advice on transferring ownership of the material archive from an archaeological project
    • Procedures for arranging transfer of ownership
    • for a development project
    • for a research or community project
    • Guidance for planners, landowners and planning applicants/developers
    • Guidance where Landowner Consent Cannot be Obtained
    • Objects already in museum/repository collections
    • Material assemblages stored by archaeological contractors.

    The toolkit is undergoing a consultation period of nine months, between January and September 2025. Feedback, can be submitted here https://forms.office.com/e/4rZBiy9PwB  or by emailing FAAP@historicengland.org.uk.

  • FAME AGM draft minutes and reports

    At the FAME Forum in June, FAME held an AGM. The minutes (draft), accounts, Chair’s report and CEO’s report can be found below:

    AGM 2024 Draft Minutes 2024-10-31Download

  • Changes to laws/regulations affecting archaeology HR – October update

    In June, the FAME Board set out a series of objectives for FAME to undertake over the coming year. One of the objectives is to provide members with updates on changes to laws and regulations that will affect members’ human resources work (employment and payroll). We are proud to announce our first update:

    FAME HR Update October 2024Download

    This update covers both Ireland and the United Kingdom. If you need any support  – policies, risk assessments, etc on these changes, please let us know. FAME membership pays for Quest Business support which can provide this to you.

  • Before the Museums – consultation on standards and fees for archaeological archives in Scotland

    The ‘Before The Museums’ project is an initiative aiming to create the smooth transition of finds from their recovery during archaeological fieldwork through to their deposition at a museum. The project is part of the Scottish Archaeology Strategy and is being managed jointly between ALGAO:Scotland and National Museums Scotland. The project work is being delivered by Dr Sam Paul and Dr Manda Forster. 
    The overall outcomes of this stage of the ‘Before The Museums’ project will be twofold:

    • The creation of guidance for the transfer for archaeological assemblages to museums in Scotland, building on the draft standards that have already been created.
    • The development and implementation of a processing fee from depositors to museums for archaeological archives.

    Previous work has included a feasibility study and consultation, as well as Focus Groups delivered in 2024. The updated documents respond to feedback received concerning both the proposals and their implementation. 
    This new sector-wide consultation includes an updated version of the proposed guidance document and fee proposals for archive deposition in Scotland, as well as information about implementation. The survey will remain open until 25 September 2024.

    SURVEY LINK: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JGVNHJN

    Documents for review:

    SCA24_StandardsGuidanceTransferArchaeoAssemblagesScotland_ConsultationDraft_Aug24_v2.0Download
    MuseumsScotland_BlankArchaeologicalAssemblageSpreadsheet_ConsultationDraft_v2.0_Aug24Download

  • Submissions Open for Celebrating Archaeology in Scotland 2024

    Submissions are open for Celebrating Archaeology in Scotland 2024. The publications seeks to showcase the value archaeology brings to Scotland and report on the delivery of Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy’s key aims. This year will be the seventh issue, following on from our successful issues of the past six years and a five year review. Like previous years, this issue will be fully digital, available for free online and in an accessible format.

    The 2024 theme is inclusivity in Scottish Archaeology, and they would particularly welcome content around this topic, along with news or stories you may have as well as information for upcoming initiatives and events from the wider archaeological community.

    They have room for submissions of no more than around 300 words at the most, but would also welcome short pieces of news or notices around 50 words in length. Submissions should have at least two high-res images to illustrate the story, and more if possible. For guidelines on your submission, including image captions, copyright, and our editing process, please refer to their notes for contributors page. 

    Please send your submissions to ArchaeologyStrategy@hes.scot no later than the 12th of July.

  • CSCS Update

    CSCS Update

    On the 26th of January we learned that CSCS will no longer be issuing CSCS cards to archaeologists from Tuesday, 30th April 2024. Since then we have prioritised ensuring that FAME members will continue to have access to construction sites after that date.

    We have lobbied BuildUK, the trade association for the UK construction industry, to make sure that all of their members know that archaeologists will still need access to sites – as we will be there to help them discharge the planning conditions that have been placed on their projects. BuildUK today sent this message to all of their members:

    “CSCS has confirmed that archaeologists will no longer be able to apply for CSCS cards from 1 May 2024. Archaeology is not a construction occupation and, in line with the CLC recommendation on industry card schemes, CSCS does not issue cards for such occupations. Archaeologists should be able to access sites without a CSCS card to carry out their role, and Build UK’s Training Standard confirms that it is the responsibility of site managers to induct and escort non‐construction workers arriving on site so they can work safely.”

    BuildUK skills update 4th March 2024

    We hope no FAME members will encounter immediate issues with site access. In theory, site managers will not ask archaeologists to show their CSCS cards to get on site – but it might take time for this to become common knowledge and practice.

    If anyone does have difficulties, they can point the site manager towards that BuildUK news item – but to minimise the potential for this, we very definitely recommend that up until 30th April, FAME members continue to support their staff in acquiring CSCS cards – remembering that while new cards will not be issued after that date, existing cards will remain valid for up to five years. And as holding a CSCS card demonstrates that the holder has passed a CITB Health, Safety and Environment test, it will continue to be an externally benchmarked demonstration of that person’s competency in health and safety.

    Going forward, in the absence of the CSCS cards, FAME is working to identify what the best route to certify archaeologists’ health and safety competences will be. We know that FAME members’ staff have to be competent to be safe, and we need to be able to certify that. We are working towards providing you with an update on this in the summer.

    Kenneth Aitchison
    CEO FAME: Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers

  • Archaeological Achievement Awards Nominations Close Soon

    The nominations for the 2023 Archaeological Achievement Awards close this Friday. They cover both Ireland and the United Kingdom and the organisers are very keen, as is FAME, to have development-led archaeology organisations win some awards.

    The award categories are: Learning, Training and Skills; Public Dissemination or Presentation;  Engagement and Participation; and Early Career Archaeologist. This year they also have a brand new category, Archaeology and Sustainability, which celebrates how archaeology addresses issues around sustainability. This can include approaches to making archaeological projects sustainable or the contribution archaeology can make to the wider debate on creating a more sustainable future.

    The deadline for nominations is 12pm on Friday 15 September 2023.

    For more information and to access the nomination forms and guidance documents visit https://www.archaeologyuk.org/what-we-do/archaeology-awards/archaeological-achievement-awards.html. You can also email awards@archaeologyuk.org with any questions on the nomination process.