About Our Mission
Documenting Britain's Deep History for Future Generations
Our Mission
Preserving and sharing the archaeological heritage of prehistoric Britain
Founded in 2018, the Ancient Britain Archaeological Index is a non-profit project creating an accessible database of Britain's prehistoric heritage. We aim to document, preserve, and share knowledge about the civilizations here from the Mesolithic to the Roman conquest.
We think understanding our deep past helps us appreciate the complexity and continuity of human life in Britain. Through careful documentation, research, and public engagement, we want to make this heritage available to scholars, students, and everyone.
Our work uses traditional archaeology alongside modern technologies like LiDAR survey, digital reconstruction, and scientific analysis to build a detailed picture of prehistoric British society, technology, and culture.
Our Values
Principles guiding our work
Scholarly Excellence
Our work is peer-reviewed and meets high academic standards. We work with universities, museums, and research institutions to ensure our documentation is accurate.
Open Access
We believe knowledge should be free. Our database, publications, and resources are open to everyone, supporting education, research, and public understanding.
Ethical Practice
We follow high ethical standards in archaeology, respecting cultural heritage, working with communities, and ensuring responsible site investigation and artefact care.
Our Research Team
Our team of archaeologists and heritage professionals
Dr. Eleanor Vance
Principal Archaeologist & Director
PhD in Prehistoric Archaeology from Cambridge. Specializes in Iron Age settlement patterns and Celtic material culture. Author of 'Hillforts of Northern England' and over 40 peer-reviewed articles.
Research Interests: Iron Age hillforts, Celtic art, settlement archaeology
Prof. James Morrison
Senior Research Fellow
Professor Emeritus at Oxford University with 35 years of experience in Bronze Age archaeology. Leading expert on Beaker culture and early metallurgy. Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.
Research Interests: Bronze Age metallurgy, Beaker culture, scientific dating
Dr. Sarah Whitmore
Landscape Archaeology Specialist
Expert in landscape archaeology and GIS applications. Currently leads our digital archaeology initiatives including LiDAR analysis and predictive modeling of site locations across prehistoric Britain.
Research Interests: Landscape archaeology, GIS, remote sensing, monument studies
Partners & Collaborations
Working with leading institutions to advance archaeological knowledge
Academic Partners
We maintain formal research partnerships with universities and institutions across the UK and internationally, ensuring our work contributes to the broader academic community.
Key Collaborations:
- University of Cambridge - Department of Archaeology
- Oxford Archaeology - Commercial unit partnership
- National Museums Scotland - Artefact research
- Historic England - National database integration
- NERC Radiocarbon Facility - Scientific dating
Community Engagement
We believe in making archaeology accessible to everyone. Our community programs include school visits, public lectures, and training opportunities for amateur archaeologists.
Public Programs:
- Annual public lecture series
- School education program
- Volunteer training schemes
- Local archaeology society partnerships
- Digital heritage workshops
Educational Impact
Our educational programs reach over 5,000 students annually through school visits, university collaborations, and online resources. We provide curriculum-aligned materials for Key Stage 2 through A-level students, introducing them to archaeological thinking and Britain's prehistoric heritage.
Teachers consistently report that our hands-on workshops and digital resources help students understand historical thinking, scientific method, and the importance of cultural heritage. Many former participants have gone on to study archaeology at university, continuing the cycle of knowledge and discovery.
Educational Resources:
- Interactive site reconstruction videos
- Downloadable teaching materials
- Virtual museum collections
- Archaeological method demonstrations
Teacher Testimonials:
"The Index's resources transform how students think about the past. They see archaeology as detective work, not just memorizing dates."
What Others Say
Recognition from the archaeological community
"The Index's geophysical survey data for the Durrington Walls environs was invaluable for our postgraduate research. Their open-access approach is transforming how we study prehistoric landscapes."
"As a guide for the Avebury Trust, I regularly direct visitors to your clear explanations of the Sanctuary's postholes. It makes the invisible, visible."
"Your curated records on Iron Age coin hoards in the Cotswolds helped our local history society design a new exhibition. Excellent scholarly work made accessible."
Join Our Mission
Help us preserve and share Britain's extraordinary prehistoric heritage