On the Outside Looking in: What Will Brexit Mean for European Archaeology?

Abstract

While the U.K.’s departure from the European Union will make a big difference to archaeology in the U.K., its effect on archaeological practice in mainland Europe will be minimal. Archaeological traditions of practice and funding will not be affected. The changes in the U.K., particularly regarding the potential loss of freedom of movement between states, will seriously reduce employers’ access to, and opportunities for, a skilled workforce of European archaeologists seeking to work in the U.K.

Keywords:

• Brexit
• employment
• transnational mobility
• commercial archaeology

Notes

1. The Economist, “The Brexit negotiations.”

2. SAL, Salon Special Issue on Brexit.

3. Aitchison, Survey of Archaeological Specialists 2016–2017, 38.

4. Clack, Skills Shortage and Brexit.

5. Miles and Early, “Les Anglais s’emparent du château.”

6. Depaepe et al. “Management of Large Archaeological Projects,” 131.

7. Rubicon Heritage, About Us.

8. EEC, Council Directive 85/337/EEC.

9. DoE, Planning Policy Guidance note 16.

10. Ralston and Thomas, “Environmental Assessment and Archaeology,” 1.

11. Tim Darvill quoted in Aitchison, Breaking New Ground.

12. MoL, Archaeological Site Manual.

13. Andrews et al., “Interpretation Not Record.”

14. For one view of the importance of sunshine, wine, local lovers etc. to university lecturers in the U.K. see Bahn, Bluff Your Way in Archaeology.

15. Aitchison et al. Discovering the Archaeologists of Europe, 34.

16. Aitchison, Archaeological Market Survey 2016–2017.

17. TNS Opinion & Social, “Special Eurobarometer 386,” 5.

18. Aitchison, Archaeological Market Survey 2016–2017.

19. MacDonagh and Hinton, Letter to Michel Barnier.

20. Technopolis, The Role of E.U. Funding.