Centre for Applied Archaeology

Our Values

The CAA has a holistic approach to heritage and believes in community-wide involvement in protecting and managing the historic environment. We are committed to ethical and sustainable approaches to enhance the capacity of communities to benefit from their local historic and archaeological sites.

We believe in:

• Undertaking research to the highest professional and academic standards
• Participation and involvement 
• Integrated management that really benefits local communities

The CAA is committed to the transfer of expertise and skills. We subscribe to the codes of conduct of the Institute for Archaeologists and the World Archaeological Congress.

CAA Staff

In addition to its core staff, CAA also benefits from the diversity of expertise of Institute of Archaeology’s academics, from experience of Archaeology South-East staff, and also from wide range of UCL researchers and freelance consultants associated with CAA.

Dominic Perring (PhD) - the director of CAA and ASE

Dominic has had a long and diverse career in the field of Archaeology, holding positions in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. He has worked for a number of key archaeological organisations including the Cooperativa Archeologica Lombarda, Milan (1982-1985, Director of Excavations), English Heritage (1990-1995, Head of Greater London Archaeology Advisory Service), AOC Archaeology Ltd.(1995-1998, Executive Director), and also held Academic positions at the University of York (1998-2004, Lecturer in Archaeology), as Visiting Professor to American University of Beirut (and is 1999-2000). Dominic currently co-ordinates a number of courses within the IoA and lectures on Urban Archaeology; his research interests include the origins and nature of urban society, Archaeology of the Roman provinces (especially Britain & Syria) and Cultural Resource Management in UK and Middle-East.

For full list of academic publications and resear interests, please visit UCL staff page.

Sarah Wolferstan, consultant

Sarah has 13 years of professional experience that can be grouped into three areas; Heritage Management, training and policy advice (Council of Europe, The Drury McPherson Partnership, UCL’s Centre for Applied Archaeology) and fundraising and project management in international development and environmental sustainability (United Nations World Food Program, International Organisation of Migration, Global Action Plan). She is currently Project Manager for the EC co-financed EDUCCKATE pilot project - Education Culture & Creative Knowledge Alliance for Tomorrow's Entrepreneurs, an 11-partner consortium co-ordinated by CAA-UCL.

Gai Jorayev, consultant

Gaygysyz Jorayev completed his MA degree in Managing Archaeological Sites (2008) and then his PhD research on Heritage and Nation Building at the Institute of Archaeology. He worked with CAA as an associate for several years before joining the core team in 2012. Gai is a specialist on management and modern use of heritage, and he is experienced in working in the developing countries of the world. He also participated and managed projects in documentation of the sites and monuments, exhibition design and interpretation, education and public outreach.

Gai also leads the aerial photography research with the use of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

Isa Benedetti-Whitton, CAA Intern

Isa received her MA (Hons) in History of Art from Edinburgh University in 2011 and is due to complete an MA in Archaeology at the IoA in 2013. Her research interests include Art and Archaeology of the Roman World, Underwater Archaeology, Archaeological Site Management and fieldwork. The subject of her MA dissertation is ‘Female Identity in Roman London’.

Background of CAA

The CAA was founded in 2006 as a research centre unit within the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. We aim to build links between commercial practice, academic research and local communities, encouraging collaboration and innovation in the heritage sector.  Our affiliation with the IoA-UCL places us at the forefront of research, teaching and practice in conservation, cultural resource management and public archaeology. We work closely with the Institute’s academic experts who are involved in archaeology, museums and heritage projects all over the world.

Archaeology South-East is the CAA's contract division. Through ASE we can offer specialist advice in a number of areas, including:

• Archaeological law
• Survey
• Excavation
• Environmental impact assessment 
• Post-excavation analysis (including publication).  

Our Partnerships

Partnerships

The CAA has partnered with a number of organisations. In the UK these include Local Authorities, The Department of Culture Media and Sport and English Heritage. In Europe, these include the European Commission’s Directorate General for Education and Culture, the Council of Europe’s Heritage and Landscape Division and its Regional Cooperation Division. Internationally, these include UNESCO, the World Monuments Fund, the Getty Conservation Institute, the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan, the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Cultural Authority, and Patrimoine Culturel of Mali to name a few.

Recent partnerships include

EDUCCKATE –co-financed by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Education and Culture

The CAA is leading a consortium of 11 partners including, Hub Kings Cross Ltd, Quality Program, Link Campus University (both Italy), knowl (Greece), die Berater, FH Joanneum – Univesity of Applied Sciences (both Austria) , Rand DO, CEIA, University of Nicosia (both Cyprus), Bupnet (hermany) and Catro (Budapest). We are developing entrepreneurship and mentoring training for a mentored work placement scheme for students of the cultural and creative sectors.

Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, The Netherlands

The CAA undertakes joint research into commercial archaeological practice with ARCHOL BV, the contracts division of Leiden University. It also is involved in joint research into international heritage management with the Faculty of Archaeology, looking in particular at ethical standards for heritage professionals and at heritage management in the developing world.

International Centre for Chinese Heritage and Archaeology The CAA provides advice on site management and conservation options for the site of Niuheliang, Liaoning Province in China.