The vision for Herefordshire Archaeology is for a service that: • Provides a regulatory and investigative framework for improved understanding and management of the County’s archaeological resource. • Actively contributes to such understanding and conservation, and acts widely as an advocate for the local historic environment. • Provides public access to information on the resource via the County Sites and Monuments Record, and events, activities and publications.

Herefordshire Archaeology provides:

• An advisory service for historic conservation, actively pursuing effective resource management and supporting regeneration initiatives.
• A documentation and information service, centred upon the County Sites and Monuments Record, and its web-site Historic Herefordshire On Line.
• An investigative and community service, with fieldwork, conservation works, local heritage projects, public events and productions.

Conservation Advisory Service The Archaeological Advisor and the Countryside Advisor (Archaeology) provide these services (the CAA currently with 50% funding support from English Heritage). They provide advice on the archaeological and historic landscape implications of development within and beyond the planning system, including in respect to farming and forestry. The Archaeological Advisor also manages the Hereford Area of Archaeological Importance, and the Countryside Advisor advises upon the longer-term management of important historic landscapes and ancient monuments.

Documentation and Information Service
The Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) Officer (job-share) manages the county SMR. The SMR is an integral part of the county archaeological service, maintaining over 20,000 records relating to the historic environment, that includes a substantial collection of oblique archaeological aerial photographs. Volunteers on work placement assist the operation of the service. A Development Plan in preparation in 2006-7 will specify progress towards creation of a full Historic Environment Record (HER) for the county by 2008-9.

Investigative and Community Service
The investigative aspects of the work of the county archaeological service are varied, and are delivered by means of a series of projects and partnerships mostly supervised by Senior Projects Archaeologists. Currently, the main areas of focus are urban archaeology, aggregates and archaeology, and historic landscape change. The Archaeological Projects Officer and the Community Archaeologist deliver much of the remaining service agenda for investigation and recording (including survey and excavation), research, outreach, interpretation and working with local communities.

All Herefordshire Archaeology staff members are engaged in work that aims to raise public awareness and appreciation of the county’s archaeology and historic landscape. A full events calendar is organised including an annual symposium, monthly historic landscape walks, and public talks. A series of archaeological project summaries and reports is produced each year.

Further Information about Herefordshire Archaeology
The Herefordshire Archaeology Strategy 2004-2007: sets out the vision, principles and strategic agenda for the County Archaeological Service to the end of 2007.
The Strategic Plan for Herefordshire Archaeology 2004-2007: specifies the planned work of the county archaeological service during the financial years 2004-5, 2005-6 and 2006-7.
The Herefordshire Archaeology Handbook, Version 1: will describe the current operational framework, policies, and practices of the County Archaeological Service, and will be available in 2007.

Christopher Atkinson BA / Community Archaeologist / Current projects: Garway Hill Local Heritage; Herefordshire Aerial Archaeology; Herefordshire commons surveys

Nigel Baker BA PhD MIFA / Senior Projects Archaeologist (Urban Archaeology) / Current projects: Hereford Urban Archaeological Database; Herefordshire Market Towns Archaeological Profiles

Ian Bapty MA / Senior Projects Archaeologist (Aggregates and Archaeology) / Current project: Lower Lugg Valley Aggregates and Archaeology

Julian Cotton BA AIFA / Archaeological Advisor / Planning and Development Control Advice, Area of Archaeological Importance Contact Officer

Lucie Dingwall BA MSc AIFA / SMR Officer (job-share) / Management and Development of Sites and Monuments Record

Peter Dorling BSc / Senior Project Archaeologist (Landscape Archaeology) / Current project: Lugg Valley Archaeology, Landscape Change and Conservation (LEADER+)

Tim Hoverd BA AIFA / Archaeological Projects Officer / Field Projects and Community Based Activites

Natalie Preece BA / Project Archaeologist (Rivers) / Current project: Lugg Valley Archaeology, Landscape Change and Conservation (LEADER+)

Keith Ray MBE MA PhD FSA MIFA / County Archaeologist / Manager of Herefordshire Archaeology Service

Neil Rimmington BSc PhD / Countryside Advisor (Archaeology) / Agri-environment schemes and other conservation scheme advice

Melissa Seddon MA MLitt FSA Scot / SMR Officer (job-share) / Management and Development of Sites and Monuments Record

David Williams HND BA MIFA / Project Archaeologist (Rivers) / Current projects: Lugg Valley Archaeology, Landscape Change and Conservation (LEADER+)