2001_000

University of Leicester Archaeological Services
Introduction
The past year has been one of major achievement for
both the University of Leicester Archaeological Services
and the School of Archaeology and Ancient History, to
which it is attached. As is immediately apparent from
this report, ULAS continues to provide a high standard
of service, as a professional archaeological contracting
unit, to a large number of satisfied customers. At the
same time ULAS staff contribute to (and are supported
by) the academic wing of the School. The School was
assessed for both its Research output and its Teaching
and Learning quality in 2001 and came through both
exercises with flying colours, with top ratings of 5A for
research (only 5* is higher) and 24/24 for its teaching
quality. Several ULAS staff were cited in the Research
submission and no less than ten ULAS staff have
contributed their expertise to the School’s teaching
programme in the last year. Similarly, academic advisors
from the School’s core staff are routinely attached to
major ULAS field projects to make the most of a twoway
exchange of expertise within the School. This
symbiosis between academic school and professional
archaeological unit has been a major factor in the success
of ULAS and gives the latter an edge over many of its
professional competitors.
ULAS had a quality audit of its own in the autumn, with
a validation visit by the IFA (Institute of Field
Archaeologists) – the body that serves the professional
archaeology community. The visit passed off very
successfully, with the IFA re-confirming its validation
of the services ULAS offers. Those commissioning work
can do so confident in the knowledge that ULAS meets
exacting professional standards. In addition, as part of
their overall strategy for
offering their staff opportunities
for career development, and
customers a better and better
service, ULAS are also seeking
validation this year under the
Investors in People scheme.
This involves enhancing the
existing staff development and
training structures and once
again, this will help the unit maintain and build on its
reputation for high quality and efficient project work.
It is clear, from the list of projects undertaken, that ULAS
is frequently active in several counties, but the focus of
the work, understandably, remains Leicestershire and
Rutland. After a ten-year period of limited activity, the
past year has seen the start of a major new wave of
construction and redevelopment in Leicester city centre.
ULAS has already been involved in several of these sites
and hopes to continue to contribute its local knowledge
and long experience to excavations in Leicester over
the coming few years. These are exciting times ahead
and ULAS and the School intend to be at the forefront
of archaeology for many years to come.
David Mattingly
Professor of Roman Archaeology
Acting Head of School of Archaeology and Ancient History
March 2002
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