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awards Top right: The awards ceremony took place at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff Right: Rufus Mufasa, poet and host of the awards ceremony The keynote lecture was given by Jane Henderson, Professor of Conservation at Cardiff University Archaeological Achievement Awards 2024 The 2024 Archaeological Achievement Awards were held on 22November at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff. The Awards aim to celebrate the best in archaeology in the UK and Ireland and to recognise outstanding projects, teams, and individuals making a transformative impact in the sector with creativity, passion, and innovation. This is the fourth year the awards have been organised by the Council for British Archaeology (CBA), and we were delighted to head to Wales for this edition of the awards. The evening opened with an address by Jack Sargeant, Minister for Culture, Skills, and Social Partnership in the Welsh Government and a Member of the Senedd, emphasising the power of archaeology to connect communities, shape cultural identity, and inspire young people to engage with their heritage. The keynote lecture was given by Jane Henderson, Professor of Conservation at Cardiff University. Jane challenged us to rethink traditional views of preservation, advocating for a shift from gatekeeping to co-creation. Her inspiring talk explored how embracing the imperfect, the vulnerable, and evolving practice in heritage can foster greater inclusivity and engagement within archaeology. Jane reinforced the importance of archaeology, heritage, and culture to us all: “In times of crisis and in times of contentment heritage and culture play a vital role in us understanding our humanity. Making the case for Conservation is about demonstrating the value it offers to improve lives individually and collectively.” The ceremony was hosted by local Welsh poet and literar y activist Rufus Mufasa, who energised the audience with her vibrant presence. To conclude the event, she delivered a powerful, original poem inspired by the evening’s themes of archaeology, art, and community. We are incredibly grateful to Jane and Rufus for ensuring the evening ran smoothly and for inspiring us to think about our actions and impacts. Over the course of the next few pages we give a summary of the winners and highly commended nominations. Below are details on how you can find out more about all the shortlisted entries. Congratulations The CBA and the judging panel would like to offer their congratulations to all the 2024 shortlisted nominees. The extraordinary range of projects and individuals nominated demonstrate the hard work, passion, and creativity that make archaeology accessible to everyone. James Kyle, chair of judges and Laura Hampden, vice-chair of judges shared their thoughts on the 2024 awards: “Year after year the incredible projects and individuals nominated for these awards exceed our expectations as judges. The current crop of nominees continues to push the boundaries of our discipline, showing us that archaeology has the power to inspire collaboration, to embrace diversity, to champion inclusivity, and to push for equity. “Those themes rightly deserve celebration and recognition, and they are at the very heart of the Archaeological Achievement Awards.” We would also like to express our gratitude to all of the judges for their time and commitment to the awards. Finally, we would also like to thank all the funders and sponsors of the awards for enabling us to deliver the awards scheme and celebrate the best of archaeology across the UK and Ireland. Nominations for the 2025 Archaeological Achievement Awards will open on Saturday 19 July and the awards ceremony will be held at the Great Hall, Queens University Belfast in November 2025. Find out more about the 2024 shortlisted nominees and look out for guidance on how to apply for this year s awards: https://www.archaeologyuk.org/our- work/archaeology-awards.html. 6|British Archaeology|March April 2025
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Outstanding Achievement Award Winner: Bryn Celli Ddu Public Archaeology Project Sponsored by Left: Representatives of Bryn Celli Ddu Public Archaeology Project, winners of the Outstanding Achievement Award, with Gwilym Hughes from Cadw, sponsors of the award The Outstanding Achievement Award shortlist is comprised of the winners of all the other award categories. The judges felt that Bryn Celli Ddu Public Archaeology Project was a fantastic example of a co-produced project, and great efforts were made to engage the participants. It was very well resourced and professionally organised, a range of experiences for participants, which were strongly embedded in the project, with volunteers being heavily involved throughout the creative process. Overall, this was a very strong, exemplary project with a great legacy and sustainability, which clearly engaged the whole community and on a limited budget. Archaeology and Sustainability Sponsored by Winner: Fair Game This award celebrates how archaeology addresses issues around sustainability. This can include the contribution of archaeology to sustainable development or approaches to making archaeological projects more sustainable. Projects should demonstrate how they are addressing the aspirations of the UN Sustainability Goals. The criteria are: • The project addresses at least one of the UN Sustainability Goals • The project shows leadership and commitment to developing a sustainable future for archaeology Winner: Fair Game: Fair Game: Valuing the bio-cultural heritage of Representatives from Fair Game, winners of the Archaeology and Sustainability Award, with Catherine McGrath of National Highways, sponsors of the award fallow deer and their venison for food security, sustainable woodlands, and biodiversity, demonstrates how archaeological research can provide solutions to contemporary challenges. Fair Game articulates medieval-style principles and archaeological evidence of fallow deer management, processing and venison redistribution, to transform public understanding and sector partnerships and approaches to deer management, creating positive outcomes for biodiversity, climate action, and food justice. The judges loved this project because it addressed so many angles, not just meeting the conventional sustainability criteria in a highly innovative way, but by tackling food insecurity it went to the heart of issues of inequality and disadvantage. A collaborative approach drew people in from across the local area, and the revisiting of traditional farming methods tied it all back into sustainable but reliable food production. Others shortlisted: • 1000 Fingerprints 1000 Voices, The Scottish Crannog Centre British Archaeology|March April 2025|7

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awards

Top right: The awards ceremony took place at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff Right: Rufus Mufasa, poet and host of the awards ceremony

The keynote lecture was given by Jane Henderson, Professor of Conservation at Cardiff University

Archaeological Achievement Awards 2024

The 2024 Archaeological Achievement Awards were held on 22November at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff.

The Awards aim to celebrate the best in archaeology in the UK and Ireland and to recognise outstanding projects, teams, and individuals making a transformative impact in the sector with creativity, passion, and innovation.

This is the fourth year the awards have been organised by the Council for British Archaeology (CBA), and we were delighted to head to Wales for this edition of the awards.

The evening opened with an address by Jack Sargeant, Minister for Culture, Skills, and Social Partnership in the Welsh Government and a Member of the Senedd, emphasising the power of archaeology to connect communities, shape cultural identity, and inspire young people to engage with their heritage.

The keynote lecture was given by Jane Henderson, Professor of Conservation at Cardiff University. Jane challenged us to rethink traditional views of preservation, advocating for a shift from gatekeeping to co-creation.

Her inspiring talk explored how embracing the imperfect, the vulnerable, and evolving practice in heritage can foster greater inclusivity and engagement within archaeology. Jane reinforced the importance of archaeology, heritage, and culture to us all: “In times of crisis and in times of contentment heritage and culture play a vital role in us understanding our humanity. Making the case for Conservation is about demonstrating the value it offers to improve lives individually and collectively.”

The ceremony was hosted by local Welsh poet and literar y activist Rufus Mufasa, who energised the audience with her vibrant presence.

To conclude the event, she delivered a powerful, original poem inspired by the evening’s themes of archaeology, art, and community. We are incredibly grateful to Jane and Rufus for ensuring the evening ran smoothly and for inspiring us to think about our actions and impacts.

Over the course of the next few pages we give a summary of the winners and highly commended nominations. Below are details on how you can find out more about all the shortlisted entries.

Congratulations The CBA and the judging panel would like to offer their congratulations to all the 2024 shortlisted nominees. The extraordinary range of projects and individuals nominated demonstrate the hard work, passion, and creativity that make archaeology accessible to everyone.

James Kyle, chair of judges and Laura Hampden, vice-chair of judges shared their thoughts on the 2024 awards: “Year after year the incredible projects and individuals nominated for these awards exceed our expectations as judges. The current crop of nominees continues to push the boundaries of our discipline, showing us that archaeology has the power to inspire collaboration, to embrace diversity, to champion inclusivity, and to push for equity.

“Those themes rightly deserve celebration and recognition, and they are at the very heart of the Archaeological Achievement Awards.” We would also like to express our gratitude to all of the judges for their time and commitment to the awards.

Finally, we would also like to thank all the funders and sponsors of the awards for enabling us to deliver the awards scheme and celebrate the best of archaeology across the UK and Ireland. Nominations for the 2025 Archaeological Achievement Awards will open on Saturday 19 July and the awards ceremony will be held at the Great Hall, Queens University Belfast in November 2025. Find out more about the 2024 shortlisted nominees and look out for guidance on how to apply for this year s awards: https://www.archaeologyuk.org/our- work/archaeology-awards.html.

6|British Archaeology|March April 2025

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