Wales needs to know about its past. Understanding a culture’s history is vital to its continuing growth and development. The Welsh Assembly Government’s One Wales agenda emphasises celebrating and conserving our outstanding heritage – and knowledge must underpin this.

Archaeologists in Wales have been contributing to this for some two centuries, unearthing sites and seeking to interpret what they may tell us. But the past still holds many secrets, and knowledge of the buildings, monuments and landscapes of Wales must continue to advance. This website contains the research framework that evaluates the achievements already made and identifies some key questions still to be answered.

The archaeological community in Wales embarked on the challenge of producing the framework in 2001 with a conference at Aberystwyth organised by the Institute of Field Archaeologists Wales/Cymru Group. Since then the initiative has gone through several phases, but it has been recognised from the start that any framework for research must be regularly reviewed and updated.

We are now starting on the first major review of the framework. This follows the Heritage Ministers’ Welsh Historic Environment Strategic Direction Statement and Action Plan, announced on 22nd September, 2009. The Action Plan contains a specific reference to completing a review of the priorities for the Framework by the end of 2010. We hope to keep he website up-to-date with news of progress and also information as to how you can get involved in the process.

How was the Framework produced?

How will the Framework be used?

'Towards a Strategy' - a supplementary paper in PDF format, opens in a new window