Scottish Strategic Archaeology Committee – Archaeology Strategy Scotland

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.

Community Excavation at Paible, North Uist. © Tom Dawson

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.

The members of the Committee are as follows:

Area of expertise	Name	Title	Organisation	Date to leave Committee
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	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	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	Director & Curator of Archaeology	Kilmartin Museum	2024
Museums Galleries Scotland	Vacant
National Museums Scotland	Hugo Anderson-Whymark	Senior Curator, Early Prehistory	National Museums Scotland	2026
Skills and Training	Cara Jones	Senior Professional Development and Practice Coordinator (Scotland)	Institute for Archaeologists	2027
Young Person	Emily Johnston	PhD student	University of Edinburgh	2027
ScARF	Helen Spencer	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.

The Committee would like to thank the following former members:

Devon McHugh	Senior Partnerships Manager	Museums Galleries Scotland	2021-2024
Jane Miller	Learning Officer	Archaeology Scotland	2020-2023
Kate Geary	Head of Professional Development	Institute for Archaeologists	2019-2023
Edward Stewart	Student	University of Glasgow	2018-2022
Kirsty Dingwall	Project Manager	Headland Archaeology / FAME	2018-2022
Dr Kate Britton	Lecturer	Aberdeen University	2016-2022
Dr Rebecca Jones	Head of Heritage Recording & Archaeology	Historic Environment Scotland	2013-2022
Dr Fraser Hunter	Principal Curator of Prehistoric & Roman Archaeology	National Museums Scotland	2018-2022
Bruce Mann	Archaeologist	Aberdeenshire Council	2018-2022
Derek Alexander	Head of Archaeology	National Trust Scotland	2017-2021
Thomas Rees	Consultant Archaeologist	Rathmell Archaeology / Federation of Archaeological Managers & Employers (FAME)	2017-2021
Jacob O’Sullivan	Collections & Engagement Manager	Museums Galleries Scotland	2016-2020
Peter Connelly	Archaeologist	Northlight Heritage / FAME	2018-2020
Dr Jennifer Thoms	Learning Officer	Archaeology Scotland	2018-2020
Professor Stephen Driscoll	Professor of Historical Archaeology	University of Glasgow	2013-2019
Dr Mark Hall	History Officer	Perth Museum & Art Gallery	2013-2018
Peter Hinton	Chief Executive	Institute for Archaeologists	2013-2018
Dr Simon Gilmour	Director	Society of Antiquaries of Scotland	2013-2018
Eila Macqueen	Director	Archaeology Scotland	2013-2018
Robin Turner	Head of Survey & Recording	Historic Environment Scotland	2013-2018
Dr Val Turner	Shetland Archaeologist	Shetland Amenity Trust	2017-2018
Dr Katie Stevenson	Keeper of Scottish History & Archaeology	National Museums Scotland	2016-2018
Susan Kruse	Project Officer	Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands (ARCH)	2013-2017
Matt Ritchie	Archaeologist	Forestry Commission	2013-2017
Dr Chris Bowles	Archaeology Officer	Scottish Borders Council	2013-2016
Dr Alan Leslie	Director	Northlight Heritage	2013-2016
Rod McCullagh	Deputy Head of Archaeology Strategy	Historic Environment Scotland	2013-2016
Dr Karen Milek	Senior Lecturer	Aberdeen University	2013-2016
Simon Stronach	Former Senior Associate Director	CgMS Consulting	2013-2016
Luke Wormald	Strategic Policy Manager	CHED, Scottish Government	2013-2015