Romans in Sussex - Archaeology in Sussex

Archaeology in Sussex

Archaeology in Sussex today

From the 1970s onwards, there has been in increased trend for 'professionalization' in British archaeology, at the expense of amateur volunteers. This has been greatly accelerated by Planning Policy Guidance 16 (PPG16), the government's directive on archaeology and planning introduced in 1990.

PPG16 is the single most important concept influencing archaeology in Sussex today. It has essentially privatised the discipline by switching responsibility for rescue excavations from central government to local planning authorities, and ensuring that developers pay the costs of any evaluation and if necessary, excavation. From this, there have arisen a number of commercial archaeology companies, who are paid by developers to carry out this work.

Key questions answered

Who are the main organisations involved in Sussex archaeology today?

These can be divided into professional bodies, which conduct the vast majority of excavations, and amateur organisations, which also provide a valuable service, including excavation, field walking and geophysical surveys.

Professional

a) Local authorities
e.g.: East and West Sussex County Council Chichester District Council

b) Contracting archaeological organisations, e.g.:
Archaeology South-East Development Archaeology Services
Wessex Archaeology

Amateur Local societies:

e.g.: Sussex Archaeological Society
Worthing Archaeological Society
Chichester and District Archaeology Society
Hastings Area Archaeological Group
Mid Sussex Field Archaeological Team
Brighton & Hove Archaeological Society

What are the most common types of excavation carried out in Sussex today?

By far and away the most common types of excavation carried out in Sussex today are those that result from changes in development control brought about by the implementation of PPG16. Around 99% of archaeological investigations fit into this category.

What have been the most significant Iron Age-Roman-Anglo-Saxon archaeological projects of the last 10 years?

Among the most significant archaeological projects conducted in Sussex during the past 10 years has been the excavation of the extensive late Iron Age cemetery at the Westhampnett bypass by Wessex Archaeology in 1992. The on-going excavations at Fishbourne Roman Palace by the Sussex Archaeological Society have also yielded many important finds and details. Other amateur archaeological societies have also contributed much to our knowledge of Iron Age and Roman sites within Sussex.

How has Sussex archaeology changed in the last 10-20 years?

Of all the changes generated by PPG16, perhaps the biggest has been the increase in the number of archaeological organisations operating in the county and the decrease in the accessibility of hands-on digging experience for amateurs and junior professionals.

How much scope is there for public volunteers in Sussex archaeology today?

Volunteers do not generally work on developer-funded excavations and research excavations are generally either too expensive for most people or too limited in scope.
However, ceratin amateur archaeological societies, such as the Mid Sussex Field Archaeological Team and Brighton & Hove Archaeological Society do run a number of projects each year for members and volunteers, subject to numbers and accessibility. Please look at their websites in the links section for more details.