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| Current Archaeology | |
|---|---|
| Title | Current Archaeology |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Category | Archaeology |
| Publisher | Current Publishing |
| Firstdate | 1967 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Current Archaeology is a British periodical devoted to the study and dissemination of archaeological research and heritage news. Founded in the late 1960s during a period of heightened public interest in British Museum collections, Stonehenge conservation, and postwar urban redevelopment programmes such as the Festival of Britain, the magazine situates contemporary fieldwork within ongoing debates about preservation at sites like Hadrian's Wall and Skara Brae. It bridges academic and public audiences by reporting on excavations, artefact studies, and heritage policy involving institutions such as the National Trust (United Kingdom), the Museum of London, and the Society of Antiquaries of London.
The magazine was established in 1967 amid contemporaneous initiatives at the British Museum, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Oxford to communicate archaeological discoveries from excavations at places like Herculanum, Pompeii, and Vindolanda. Early coverage connected with high-profile projects including the archaeology of the River Thames foreshore, rescue excavations preceding development at Canterbury Cathedral precincts, and surveys by teams associated with the Council for British Archaeology. Founding editors drew on networks that involved researchers from the Institute of Archaeology (UCL), the British School at Rome, and regional museums such as the Yorkshire Museum, helping the magazine to report on campaigns at York Minster, Silchester, and Pitt Rivers Museum deposits. Over subsequent decades, the periodical chronicled controversies around planning permission disputes, conservation at Westminster Abbey, and reinterpretations emerging from excavations coordinated by the Portable Antiquities Scheme and the English Heritage archives.
The editorial remit emphasizes excavations, artefact studies, and interpretive syntheses with frequent features on fieldwork at sites like Stonehenge, Hoard of the River Thames, Hadrian's Wall, and Skara Brae. Regular columns highlight research by scholars from institutions such as the University of York (England), the University of Leicester, and the University of Durham, and present findings from projects at Maiden Castle (Iron Age hillfort), Avebury, and Caernarfon Castle. Coverage routinely references methodological advances credited to teams at the British Library, the Natural History Museum, London, and the Ashmolean Museum, and reports on scientific techniques developed in laboratories at the University of Sheffield, the University of Bradford, and the University of Glasgow. The magazine balances summaries of peer-reviewed studies published in journals like Antiquity (journal), Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, and Journal of Roman Studies with accessible reporting on exhibitions at the British Museum, Ashmolean Museum, and the V&A Museum.
Published by a private imprint in the United Kingdom, the magazine is distributed through traditional outlets in cities such as London, Oxford, Cambridge, and York and through subscription services used by organizations including the National Trust (United Kingdom), the Historic England archive, and university libraries at the University of Edinburgh, University College London, and the University of Bristol. Circulation strategies have engaged partners like the BBC and event promoters for festivals at venues including the Royal Albert Hall and the British Library. Special editions coincide with major international meetings hosted by bodies such as the European Association of Archaeologists, the World Archaeological Congress, and the Council for British Archaeology.
The pages have featured contributions and interviews with prominent figures associated with landmark projects and institutions, including archaeologists and curators from the British Museum, the Museum of London Archaeology Service, and the Isle of Man Archaeological Society. Noteworthy interviewees and authors have included researchers linked to excavations at Vindolanda, Mucking, Hoxne, and Prittlewell; scholars connected with the Institute for Archaeologists; and curators from the Ashmolean Museum and the York Archaeological Trust. The magazine has published dialogues with academics involved in debates over interpretation at Skara Brae and methodological change traced to laboratories at the University of Oxford, the University of Nottingham, and the University of Cambridge.
The publication is widely cited in press briefings by media outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, and The Times when reporting discoveries from excavations at Stonehenge, Avebury, and Hadrian's Wall. Heritage bodies including Historic England and the National Trust (United Kingdom) have engaged with topics raised in the magazine, while university departments at University College London, the University of Leicester, and the University of York (England) have used its reports in teaching and outreach. Critics and reviewers in forums connected to the Council for British Archaeology and the European Association of Archaeologists have debated its editorial balance between scholarly precision and public accessibility.
The publisher has produced themed issues and supplements linked to excavation seasons and conferences at venues such as the British Museum, the Museum of London, and the Royal Geographical Society. Collaborative projects have involved the Portable Antiquities Scheme, the Museum of London Archaeology Service, and academic networks at the University of Durham and the University of Sheffield. Special issues have accompanied exhibitions at the V&A Museum, the Ashmolean Museum, and the National Museum of Scotland, and have been timed to coincide with symposia organized by the World Archaeological Congress and the European Association of Archaeologists.
Category:Archaeology magazines