Avebury archaeological research agenda

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In the Avebury World Heritage Site (WHS), research and management are closely linked. Research and the improved understanding it brings is essential and key to the good management of this outstanding cultural landscape. The development of research frameworks is encouraged by UNESCO and on a national level by organisations such as English Heritage. The recommended format is that research framework should have three key parts:

• A resource assessment - a critical review of our current state of knowledge
• A research agenda - an assessment of gaps in our knowledge and the potential of the resource to answer key questions
• A research strategy - a statement setting out of research priorities and key methods and techniques

Following on the publication of the Management Plan, the Archaeological Research Agenda for the Avebury WHS was published in February 2001. This document draws together contributions from a number of specialists to provide an agenda for future research. Following an introduction setting out the background to and development of the Research Agenda, the volume is presented under a series of headings.

The resource assessment is arranged by period from Lower Palaeolithic to the end of the Medieval period (c AD 1500) together with an assessment of the palaeo-environmental data from the area. The agenda for research presented in part 3 is arranged by period but focusing on a variety of common themes. A series of more over-arching, landscape-based themes for environmental research is also included. The final two sections explore strategies for implementation and methodology.

View the Archaeological Research Agenda for the Avebury World Heritage Site. 3mb

New World Heritage Site research framework

The Research Agenda is currently in the process of being updated to produce a research framework covering both parts of the World Heritage Site: Avebury and Stonehenge.

Wessex Archaeology has been commissioned by English Heritage to produce the WHS Research Framework with contributions form across the academic community. You can view the project at the Wessex Archaeology website

Last updated: 18 April 2011