Protecting Archaeology

Archaeological remains are a crucial link with our past. They vary from upstanding and obvious sites - such as castles and stone circles - to buried remains - like Roman or medieval settlements - hidden below later buildings and fields.

All of these are fragile: once lost, they can never be replaced. We need to identify, manage and value individual monuments and the landscapes which contain them if they are not to be swept away by the modern pressures of road building, urban development or agricultural techniques.

English Heritage is the main national body which identifies archaeological sites, develops policies to protect them and promotes the importance of archaeology. We give advice to others on archaeology and planning, and are the main source of funding for archaeological projects.

Identifying the resource - Identifying sites of national importance, including - the Monument Protection Programme's Monument Class Descriptions; recording other sites; finding archaeological remains; metal detecting

Protecting archaeological remains - Archaeology and development; English Heritage funding; developing a research agenda; advice to our partners 

Work within English Heritage - English Heritage monitoring; work at our own properties; our scientific service; rapid response 

Further information - Publications; useful addresses; County Sites and Monuments Records.