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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists

@cifarch.bsky.social
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CIfA is the leading professional body representing archaeologists working in the UK and overseas, promoting high standards and ethics in archaeology.

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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Join us for an online support session on 6 October (3 more on 15th, 21st & 27th) linking employers in the historic environment sector who are considering taking on an apprentice, with training providers ow.ly/ipym50ZSzFq. Resources developed are funded by Historic England. #archaeology
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
CIfA is proud to support and participate in this year’s University Archaeology Day 2026 organised by University Archaeology UK and held in Leicester on 26th October: ow.ly/uQhw50ZSeWZ. We will be attending with a stand, and will talk with visitors about career pathways into #archaeology.
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Designs engraved on Ice Age female figurines were inspired by growth patterns in mammoth tusks, a study has found. Researchers included a team from the Archaeology @ Uni of York, which offers CIfA accredited degree programmes: ow.ly/kBoM50ZQUOF #archaeology #iceageart #palaeolithic
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Mammoth tusk patterns used in Ice Age art, York study finds
The research looked at 18 "Venus" models discovered in Ukraine and thought to be 18,000 years old.
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Organisations are being offered the opportunity to send a representative to attend Historic England’s internationally accredited Heritage Carbon Literacy Training, with courses now available to book for November 2026 and February 2027: www.trybooking.com/uk/ESSF
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Heritage Carbon Literacy Training
The Heritage Carbon Literacy Course for Heritage is an entry level, action focused, carbon reduction training developed especially for the heritage se
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
CIfA’s 2026 AGM will be held at 1pm on Tuesday 13 October via Teams, and all members are invited to attend – register here: ow.ly/r0b150ZQ9CH. The notice outlining items for discussion can be downloaded above, along with a link to the 2025-26 annual review and accounts.
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
If you’re an employer in the historic environment sector wondering whether to take on an apprentice but don’t know where to start, help is on its way. Join CIfA for the first online support session on 25 September to link employers with training providers: ow.ly/ox0p50ZLayu #archaeology
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
The Institution of Environmental Sciences' Dialogue Between Disciplines Conference on 22 September has a fantastic line-up of speakers covering a wide range of topics, which may be of interest to our historic environment sector colleagues: ow.ly/J0rR50ZOKOQ #archaeology
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Dialogue Between Disciplines 2026
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Join the CIfA Early Careers SIG for their 2026 Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 22 September from 19:00 - 20:00 to reflect on their achievements of the last year and outline their goals for the year ahead: ow.ly/2MQB50ZOHuj. #archaeology
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Last month the Government published its response to the consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework for England. CIfA has published a briefing summarising the key changes for the historic environment (available only to CIfA members): ow.ly/rFmJ50ZNTPq #archaeology #planning #nppf
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
There are still spaces available at this year’s CIfA Archaeological Archives Group day conference and AGM, on Thursday 24 September in York: ow.ly/wkjE50ZG5Vh. The theme is Beyond Deposition: Rethinking Archives in 2026 and Onwards. #archives #archaeologicalarchives
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Applying for CIfA’s Practitioner (PCIfA) grade? You can find guidance and examples on the Join pages of our website: www.archaeologists.net/join/accredited/prepare/pcifa. If you need any support, get in touch with us by emailing membership@archaeologists.net #archaeology
archaeologists.net
Preparing to apply or upgrade to Practitioner | CIfA
To apply for PCIfA, you will need to providetwo appropriate referencesa written statement of competence about your employed or voluntary work and how your current role demonstrates the competence matrix criteria for technical and ethical competenceYou can also includequalificationsa list of projects…
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
The Lost Land Bridge Project team, led by CIfA member Dr George Nash of University of Liverpool has discovered Palaeolithic cave art which suggests that the first known humans in Ireland were likely from Wales, as reported in BBC News online: ow.ly/TTZ450ZLSI2 #archaeology #palaeolithic
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
If you’re an employer in the historic environment sector wondering whether to take on an apprentice but don’t know where to start, help is on its way. Join CIfA for the first online support session on 25 September to link employers with training providers: ow.ly/ox0p50ZLayu #archaeology
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
The updated National Planning Policy Framework was published on 17 August, and in it the Government sets out a new policy relating to National Model Planning Conditions. A CIfA webinar, on 17 September, aims to get ahead of a future consultation process: ow.ly/HCLI50ZKIWs #archaeology
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
CIfA Landscape Group’s latest online lunchtime lecture, from 12:05 - 12:55 on 16 September, will explore the fascinating world of #landscapearchaeology, including the work of Derek Alexander of National Trust for Scotland, and work at Drumbrae: ow.ly/biGU50ZKoGu #archaeology
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
There are places left on CIfA’s Taking Control of Your Career workshop on 7 September from 12 noon – 2pm: ow.ly/4N3B50ZG4Hw. So, if you’re pondering whether you have ownership of your archaeology career development, and wondering what you can do about that, join us. #archaeology
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
The CIfA Archaeological Archives Group invites you to join them for this year’s day conference and AGM, which is being held on Thursday 24 September in York: ow.ly/wkjE50ZG5Vh. The theme is Beyond Deposition: Rethinking Archives in 2026 and Onwards. #archaeology #archives
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Do you feel like you have ownership of your archaeology career development? Or do you feel stuck in your current role? What can you do about that? Join CIfA on a Taking Control of Your Career workshop on 7 September from 12 noon – 2pm: ow.ly/4N3B50ZG4Hw #archaeology #archaeologycareer
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Archaeologists from CIfA Registered Organisation Highland Archaeology Services have unearthed a "beautifully made" Iron Age burial site containing the skeleton of a woman, at a quarry in Sutherland, as reported in BBC News online: ow.ly/rbGJ50ZG3XK #archaeology #ironage #archaeologyscotland
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Archaeologists uncover Iron Age woman in 'beautifully made' grave
The discovery was made ahead of a planned expansion of a Highland quarry.
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
CIfA has published the updated Standard & Universal Guidance for the Investigation & Recording of Buildings or Structures of Architectural & Historic Interest. The new documents reflect CIfA's revised standards framework and replace the previous guidance: ow.ly/5smn50ZG2ln #archaeology
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Join the CIfA Geoarchaeology and Palaeoenvironment Network’s latest event, from noon on 4 September. It brings together specialists across all career stages, with this latest event featuring a Palaeolithic seminar and discussion: ow.ly/7G4K50ZF3ZV #palaeolithic #geoarchaeology
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Archaeologists from Oxford Cotswold Archaeology (a partnership between CIfA Registered Organisations Oxford Archaeology & Cotswold Archaeology), excavating ahead Sizewell C nuclear power plant's construction, have discovered signs of #Neolithic occupation: www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c304v3n7356o
bbc.co.uk
Sizewell C dig will change prehistory, says archaeologist
The new finds are being revealed ahead of a series of archaeology open days.
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
The Government's response to the consultation on the NPPF was published yesterday ow.ly/seiL50ZAMpE, and CIfA is pleased that most of the key asks included in our consultation response have been implemented. We’ll look at the document in more detail and publish a briefing soon. #archaeology
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Archaeologists from CIfA Registered Organisation @aocarchaeology.bsky.social hope to uncover secrets from a Neolithic farming enclosure older than Stonehenge, first identified on the Scottish borders in the 1970s, as reported in BBC News online: ow.ly/sJkS50Zzl3X #archaeology #neolithic
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Sprouston dig hunts Scotland's 6,000-year-old farming origins
A site in the Borders could be the northernmost Stone Age causeway-accessed enclosure ever found.
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Looking for your next job or opportunity in archaeology? CIfA’s weekly Jobs, Training and Volunteer bulletin is all you’ll need. We’ve done the searching, so you don’t have to. Free for CIfA members and subscriptions available for non-members and institutions: ow.ly/krLx50ZyYpV #archaeology
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Join Cifa Osteoarchaeology Group for the latest in their Osteobites series of short online talks from 6:30 - 7:30pm on 13 August, entitled Zoonotic Disease – a One Palaeopathology Perspective, by Professor Richard Thomas: ow.ly/pyKg50ZuGGV #archaeology #osteoarchaeology
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Sadly, the #FestivalofArchaeology is nearing its end. Congratulations to Council for British Archaeology for organising such a successful Festival. Inspired to follow a career in #archaeology? Check out CIfA’s Information for Future Archaeologists page on our website: ow.ly/XUC950ZuCHs.
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Volunteers & students, working with University of Exeter Archaeology and History Department (which runs CIfA accredited degrees) & CIfA Registered Organisation Cotswold Archaeology have unearthed a mosaic in a Roman villa near Sampford Peverell, Devon: ow.ly/nooZ50ZuAZp #romanbritain #mosaic
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'Dream' Roman mosaic find dug up from Devon farmland
A metal detectorist first found the site 16 years ago in a regularly ploughed farmer's field.
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
The launch of Heritage Innovation's new online CPD course on Ethics in Archaeological Practice is only a few days away, on 31 July - developed by Dr Paul Belford MCIfA FSA and Dr Gerry Wait MCIfA FSA, and approved by CIfA: ow.ly/p0qe50ZnQC6 #archaeology #ethics
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
During the #FestivalOfArchaeology, organised by Council for British Archaeology, CIfA has been supporting MPs attending events in their constituency, including Rachael Maskell MP, vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Archaeology Group visiting York Museums Trust Melsonbury horde exhibit, York.
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
As part of the #FestivalOfArchaeology, organised by Council for British Archaeology the Société Jersiaise is hosting a series of heritage-focused events: ow.ly/uX9X50ZrS2v. Their Head of Field Archaeology, Hervé Duval-Gatignol, was recently awarded MCIfA status of CIfA. #archaeology #jersey
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
A large Iron Age cemetery containing the lavishly adorned remains of high-status individuals dating from around 2,000 years ago has been uncovered in Essex by CIfA Registered Organisation UCL Archaeology South-East: ow.ly/9yUn50Zrkyg #IronAge #archaeology #romanbritain
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Schools can now access free teaching resources about Must Farm, the Bronze Age settlement in Cambridgeshire described as ‘Britain’s Pompeii’, developed by CIfA Registered Organisation Cambridge Archaeological Unit & available on Historic England’s website: ow.ly/EGPh50ZqKFM #BronzeAge
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
We’re looking forward to the 6th annual digital Student and Early Careers Conference on 30 July, organised by CIfA Early Careers SIG as part of the Council for British Archaeology's #FestivalOfArchaeology Youth Day: ow.ly/bqf550ZpYeO #archaeology
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Student and Early Careers Online Conference 2026
<p>Following the success of our previous conferences (2021-2025), the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.archaeologists.net/groups/early-careers">CIfA Early Careers Special Interest Group</a>&nbsp;and the Council for British Archaeology are hosting our sixth digital Student and Early Careers Conference<strong>&nbsp;</strong>during the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.archaeologyuk.org/festival.html">Festival of Archaeology</a>&nbsp;2026.</p>
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
CIfA members are delighted to be participating in this year’s #FestivalOfArchaeology, from 18 July until 2 August, organised by the Council for British Archaeology incorporating hundreds of in-person and virtual events across the UK: www.archaeologyuk.org/festival.html #archaeology
archaeologyuk.org
Festival
The CBA's annual celebration of archaeology.
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Archaeologists from Irchester Field School team, including staff from the School of Archaeology & Ancient History, University of Leicester (which offers CIfA accredited degrees), have unearthed a Roman stone wall at the Chester House Estate in Irchester: ow.ly/eome50ZofBP #romanarchaeology
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Roman limestone wall unearthed at ancient Irchester site
A brooch, coins, bracelet, comb, pottery, hairpins and a "beautiful spoon", were also discovered.
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
A new online CPD course on Ethics in Archaeological Practice is being launched on 31 July by Heritage Innovation, developed by Dr Paul Belford MCIfA FSA and Dr Gerry Wait MCIfA FSA, and approved by CIfA: ow.ly/p0qe50ZnQC6 #archaeology #ethics
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
The latest Heritage Carbon Reduction webinar by Historic England is at 1pm on 23 July, entitled: Building Responsible Supply Chains in the Heritage Sector. Free to attend and open to all: ow.ly/lmVp50ZgMrW #heritage #archaeology
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
New research explores how police forces in England record and share data on cultural property crime. CIfA's Heritage Crime Group contributed expert evidence through stakeholder interviews. Better data means better prevention and response. Read the report: ow.ly/R6UA50ZjWYE
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
CIfA's Archives Group are holding their conference on 24 September at Priory Street Centre, York. The theme is ‘Beyond Deposition: Rethinking Archives in 2026 and Onwards’. View the call for papers and further information - ow.ly/xo1b50ZjWA2
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Archaeologists from CIfA’s registered organisation Dig Ventures were surprised to discover a World War one trench at Ampthill Great Park in Bedfordshire, as reported by BBC News Online: ow.ly/Cmpy50ZjeUL
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WW1 trenches uncovered in archaeological dig in Ampthill
They discover the pits on the site of where a royal palace once stood.
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
The latest Heritage Carbon Reduction webinar by Historic England is at 1pm on 23 July, entitled: Building Responsible Supply Chains in the Heritage Sector. Free to attend and open to all. To book your place: ow.ly/lmVp50ZgMrW #netzero #carbonreduction #builtheritage
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Archaeologists from the Northern Picts project, run by the Department of Archaeology at the University of Aberdeen (which offers CIfA accredited degrees), are to excavate a 1,200-year-old Pictish fort on the Moray Firth this summer, as reported on BBC News: ow.ly/pF2Y50ZgZal #Picts
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Archaeologists to return to 1,200 Pictish power base in Moray
The dig at Burghead is one of a number of archaeological events taking place over the summer.
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Today CIfA is attending a Parliamentary launch for the #Archaeology & Solar Farms Good Practice Guide. It shows that archaeological management & large-scale clean energy development can be delivered together effectively, avoiding delays and making informed design decisions: ow.ly/BgN350ZgbIm
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
CIfA is delighted to have been awarded a 3-year grant of £153,000 through the Historic Environment Scotland Partnership Fund to continue our skills development work in Scotland. For more information about this grant & our fellow recipients: ow.ly/bqqx50ZfRM9 #HESSupported #HistoricScotland
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
With extreme hot weather forecast this week in the UK, we’re highlighting a Warm Weather Working guide for archaeologists, produced by committee members and volunteers from CIfA’s Digger’s Forum Group, with tips and advice on how to stay safe in the heat: ow.ly/3ePp50ZfgzS
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Have you encountered ethical dilemmas during your daily work as an archaeologist? Are you looking for guidance and help navigating these dilemmas? Then CIfA’s Practising Ethical Competence in #Archaeology workshop on 25 June could be for you: ow.ly/aAn950ZcgEK
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
In a major discovery, archaeologists from CIfA Registered Organisation, Wessex Archaeology, believe they have uncovered a 5,000-year-old prototype for #Stonehenge, as reported in The Guardian newspaper: ow.ly/lGqr50Ze7LR The discovery has generated considerable international media coverage.
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
After a 12-year break, the Commercial Archaeological Geophysics Seminar returns, on 9 – 10 July in Bradford, bringing together a broad range of voices. Tickets are now on sale, but places are limited, so early booking is advised: ow.ly/iLIf50ZcfFQ #archaeology #geophysics
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Chartered Institute for Archaeologists @cifarch.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Organisations are being offered the opportunity to send a representative to attend internationally accredited Heritage Carbon Literacy Training, by Historic England, on 8 and 9 July: ow.ly/MON850Yz4EA #archaeology #carbonliteracy #heritage
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