An evaluation of community-led archaeology projects funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund: Two case studies

Abstract

Community archaeology projects have gained popularity for many reasons. In the UK, professional archaeology has championed involving community volunteers in Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) supported archaeological projects. We review two HLF-supported community-led projects, including the positive and measurable outcomes in conjunction with the challenges that each presented. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of working with community volunteers. Due to our direct responsibility for supervising the volunteers and all the archaeological aspects of these projects, we are able to analyse their success and delivery, and the benefits and drawbacks of using the HLF for project funding. This includes how they regulate access to funding, and how they evaluate the process. Finally, we examine commercial archaeological companies and the extent to which the HLF holds them accountable for outcomes, questioning how these outcomes feed into archaeological research frameworks and contribute to professional practice.

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