In this page you will find:
- Remit
- Aims
- Objectives
- Membership
- Governance
- Current Members
Remit (revised 2016)
The Scottish Strategic Archaeology Committee was formed in 2013 following a review of the Archaeology function at Historic Scotland.
The Scottish Strategic Archaeology Committee (SSAC) will be an informal group, representing key partners / interests, to help with the development and delivery of Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy.
Aims
The aims of the SSAC are to:
- Help create, promote and deliver Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy
- Offer advice and guidance to the Archaeology Team within Historic Environment Scotland
- Represent key areas of expertise in the sector
Objectives
Key areas to be supported by the Committee include:
- Development and promotion of Scotland’s Archaeology Strategy
- Development of a regularly updated implementation plan
- Oversight of delivery
- Discussion of timescales, funding and priorities for areas to be addressed
Membership
- The SSAC will include members with expertise in the following key areas:
- Archaeological Science
- Commercial Archaeology
- Community / Voluntary Archaeology
- Education and Archaeology
- Land Management
- Local Authority Archaeology
- Marine Archaeology
- Museums (including the National Museums Scotland)
- The Professional Institution (Chartered Institute for Archaeologists)
- University Archaeology
- Others as deemed appropriate
- There will be links to the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF), and also to the Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) when appropriate. Committee members can represent multiple areas on the committee. Others will be invited to attend as necessary, particularly representatives of relevant working groups.
- Committee members will serve 4 year terms – although the first group of committee members will serve between 2-5 years to ensure that there isn’t a sudden change of membership 4 years after starting. Members will only serve one term to ensure regular change of personnel and dynamism to the committee.
The Chair will come from within the committee but not be a member of HES staff. HES will provide necessary administrative support to the Chair.
- The group will aim to meet three times a year.
- The committee minutes will be made available on the SAS website, on the Committee page.
Governance
The Group will consider its progress against its remit and report to the Chief Executive of HES on an annual basis, recognising HES’s lead role in the delivery of Our Place in Time. It will liaise with the relevant groups of Going Further as necessary.
Current Members
The members of the Committee are as follows:
| Area of expertise | Name | Title | Organisation | Date to step down |
| Archaeological Science / University Archaeology | Vacant | |||
| Commercial Archaeology | Dr Andy Heald (Committee Chair) | Director | AOC Archaeology | 2025 |
| Commercial Archaeology | Sophie Cathcart | Archaeologist | Rathmell Archaeology | 2028 |
| Community / Voluntary | Ailsa Smith | Volunteer Archaeologist | Association of Certified Field Archaeologists | 2024 |
| Education and Archaeology | Gavin MacGregor (Aim 4 Lead) | Director | Archaeology Scotland | 2026 |
| FAME Representative | Kenneth Aitchison | Chief Executive Officer | Federation of Archaeological Managers & Employers | 2028 |
| Land Management | Dr Daniel Rhodes | Honorary Senior Research Fellow | University of Stirling | 2027 |
| Local Authority Archaeology | Andrew Robertson (Joint Aim 3 Lead) | Archaeology & Heritage Officer | East Lothian Council / ALGAO | 2025 |
| Marine & Maritime Archaeology | Dr Jon Henderson | Chancellor’s Fellow in Global Challenges | University of Edinburgh | 2024 |
| Museums | Dr Sharon Webb MBE | Director & Curator of Archaeology | Kilmartin Museum | 2024 |
| Museums Galleries Scotland | Gillian Simison | Head of Museum Development | Museums Galleries Scotland | 2028 |
| National Museums Scotland | Hugo Anderson-Whymark (Joint Aim 3 Lead) | Senior Curator, Early Prehistory | National Museums Scotland | 2026 |
| Skills and Training | Cara Jones (Aim 5 Lead) | Senior Professional Development and Practice Coordinator (Scotland) | Institute for Archaeologists | 2027 |
| Young Person | Emily Johnston | PhD student | University of Edinburgh | 2027 |
| ScARF | Helen Spencer (Aim 2 Lead) | ScARF Project Director | Society of Antiquaries of Scotland | 2025 |
| HES Lead | Alex Adamson | Head of Heritage Recording & Archaeology | Historic Environment Scotland |
In addition, others may be invited to attend as appropriate.
We would like to thank the former members of the Committee.