Since 2004, the archaeology department has conducted research that is fieldwork-led. This research has been inclusive, offering opportunities for as many different groups as possible to be involved.
In the last seven years, the team have made major regional discoveries and created new narratives about the archaeology of North West England and North Wales. This has had a significant impact on the co-production of new knowledge in the area, leading to enhanced preservation and an increase in the perceived value of heritage assets. The co-production of this knowledge has been instrumental in engaging and educating school children and young people from areas of high deprivation, as well as higher education students and the wider public.
Our collaborations with government agencies, environmental organisations and museums have enabled these partners to develop new narratives about the regional past to drive community engagement and influence policy. The department has worked in partnership with the Welsh heritage organisation Cadw, the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Ribchester Museum in Lancashire. This has meant we can develop and drive community engagement and influence policy, impacting on education and learning, enabling us to reach and inspire excluded communities.