About Berkshire Archaeology
Berkshire Archaeology is an archaeological advice service for Windsor and Maidenhead, Reading, Bracknell Forest, Slough and Wokingham. It was established in 2004 as part of Reading Borough Council's Museum service, and offers a range of services to make sure the rich archaeology of our area is recorded, preserved and managed for everyone to enjoy.
Office working and meetings
Our team members work partly from the office and partly remotely. Please call us on 0118 937 5976 if you would like to arrange an online (via MS Teams) or in person meeting
East Berkshire Historic Landscape Characterisation
We are pleased to announce that our Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) project, funded by Historic England and covering all five authorities, has recently been completed. You can download a summary of the project here:
The project report for the East Berkshire HLC will shortly be available for download via the Archaeology Data Service
The full dataset is now incorporated into the Berkshire Historic Environment Record and is available for consultation by contacting the HER Officer on 0118 937 5976
Historic Environment Record
We manage the Berkshire Archaeology Historic Environment Record (known as the HER), a database of archaeological sites and finds in our five boroughs. Ranging from the oldest Stone Age tools and prehistoric settlements, through medieval villages and farms, to World War II remains and modern structures, our records reflect many decades of research and archaeological investigation
Consulting the HER
The Historic Environment Record can be viewed online via the Heritage Gateway
Or please contact the HER Officer on 0118 937 5976 to discuss your requirements
There is a charge for commercial use of HER data, which will be provided under licence to consultants - our charging policy is below:
NB. Historic Environment services for West Berkshire are provided by West Berkshire Council - please see their website for details
Protecting and conserving archaeology
We advise our local authority clients on how the archaeology in their borough can be looked after. Archaeological remains are fragile and particularly at risk of damage from building works; once gone, they are irreplaceable. National and local planning policies require developers to take measures to protect and/or record archaeology surviving on construction sites. Berkshire Archaeology's role is to advise on planning policy and also individual development proposals, to make sure the impact of development on archaeology can be mitigated, and that fieldwork programmes are carried out to the highest standard
