LAUNCH OF THE 2004 BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL AWARDS

Lord Redesdale, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Archaeology
Group, recently launched the British Archaeological Awards for 2004 in
the BP Lecture Theatre at the British Museum.

The biennial British Archaeological Awards are the most prestigious
awards in British archaeology - the archaeological 'Oscars'.  Since
their foundation in 1976, they have grown till they encompass 13 Awards
covering every aspect of British archaeology. For the first time,
Belfast will host the Awards ceremony, in October 2004.

The Awards reward good practice and acknowledge the help which
archaeologists have received from others.  They are given for the
sponsorship of archaeology, the discovery of artefacts, the presentation
of archaeological projects to the public, the best professional,
voluntary and young people's archaeological projects, the best re-use of
a historic building, the reporting of archaeology by the media, the best
film or video, the best book, the best field project, and the "Silver
Trowel" for the most innovative project in British archaeology.  Three
new Awards celebrate excellence in maritime archaeology, scholarly
publication and developer-funded archaeological projects. Award sponsors
comprise businesses - Tarmac, the Wedgwood Group, Spear & Jackson,
Channel 4, the Ancient & Medieval History Book Club, Current Archaeology
magazine - and archaeological and other organisations, including the
Young Archaeologists' Club, the Institute of Field Archaeologists, the
Association for Industrial Archaeology, and the Robert Kiln Trust.

For further information on the Awards see the BAA website
(www.britarch.ac.uk/awards) or contact the Hon Secretary of the Awards:

Dr Alison Sheridan
Department of Archaeology
National Museums of Scotland
Chambers St.
Edinburgh EH1 1JF
Tel: 0131 247 4051
email: [log in to unmask]