Background: more about Archaeology South-East
Archaeology South-East started life as the Institute
of Archaeology’s Field Archaeology Unit in the early 1970s.
The first purpose of the Field Unit was to train students during
the Institute’s field schools in Sussex whilst working on staff
research projects in the area.
The Unit soon became involved in publicly funded ‘Rescue’ archaeology,
becoming the regional unit responsible for the archaeology of
Sussex. As the Sussex Archaeological Field Unit it undertook
a series of important field projects in the 1980s.
In the 1990s the Unit became increasingly involved in commercially
funded projects. Operating as Archaeology South-East, and re-structured
to meet the exacting standards of the private-sector, it has
become one of the largest and most effective contract archaeology
teams working in Southern England. Archaeology South-East has
now completed over 2000 commercial projects for a wide variety
of clients. Under the Direction of Dominic Perring Archaeology
South-East employs over forty staff and has an annual operating
turnover of £1-2 million.
Working with communities, developers, local government, academics,
specialists and local residents Archaeology South-East has unrivalled
experience in reconciling the different needs of all concerned
with historic landscapes. Archaeology South-East, now housed
within the Centre for Applied Archaeology continues to provide
teaching and training support for teaching and research projects
undertaken at the Institute of Archaeology.
Archaeology South-East offers a full range of archaeological
services to the development industry within the context of the
UK planning system. We work with councils and developers to
ensure that archaeological remains are recorded and preserved
before work begins on new development schemes. We have a wide
range of services to offer: not only do we carry out excavations,
but also building surveys, martime archaeology, forensic archaeology,
academic publication and specialist illustration and computer
modeling.
ASE is a Registered Organisation with the Institute of Field
Archaeologists, which plays a lead role in developing and monitoring
adherence to best professional practice. Registration offers
a ‘kitemark’ of archaeological quality. It also adheres to internal
Quality Assurance procedures and through UCL carries £10,000,000
in professional indemnity insurance. The Unit works in full
accordance with UK Health & Safety procedures, both domestically
and overseas.
Clients can be assured that work commissioned from Archaeology
South-East will be carried out in accordance with the best professional
standards, including the IFA Code of Conduct and Code of Approved
Practice for the regulation of Contractual Arrangements in Field
Archaeology.
Relationship to UCL
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