The Chartered Institute for Archaeologists: Building Professionalism, Power and Influence in Archaeology and Heritage Management

Abstract

The Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) is one of the largest professional associations working in archaeology and heritage in the world. There are a number of important distinctions to make clear – most especially what is a ‘professional institute’ and how it differs from other organisations. This presentation will explain what is CIfA, and when did it start? What were the motivations to start the organisation, and what problems has the institute had to overcome to reach its present position of stability? Having made a long journey to become the organisation it is now, what forms of influence and power does the institute have? I will also consider briefly some of the present challenges that the institute faces, not least of these being the things other people criticize CIfA for doing (or for not doing!) and briefly explain how CIfA functions today. This presentation will explain CIfA and its role in the practice of archaeology and archaeological heritage management in the United Kingdom and indeed internationally.