An Interview With..... KCC Community Archaeologist, Andrew Mayfield

A new, regular feature in which the Editor interviews a member of the KAS to gain an insight into their role and how their work impacts upon Kent’s heritage.

The first interview is with KCC community archaeologist, Andrew Mayfield. I began by asking Andrew to tell us a bit about his background:

AM: My passion for all things archaeological dates back to my childhood. I loved to bury toys in my garden and then dig them up again! Early excavation experience came through working with local archaeology groups in East Sussex. After a gap year in which I spent a month digging in Israel I spent 4 happy years at University College London studying archaeology to Masters degree level. I took opportunities every summer to work on archaeological projects, from Norfolk to Cornwall, a survey project in Italy, a research project in Morocco, as well as stints with the Museum of London as a project archaeologist on sites in London and Kent.

RT: What did you do after graduating? Did you head straight into the heritage sector?

AM: After University, I worked for three years on the commercial archaeology circuit, across the country, including key sites in Canterbury, Springhead and Heathrow. In 2004 I joined Kent County Council’s Historic Environment Record Team. During this time, I began volunteering with the Dover Archaeological Group and then on community archaeology projects based out of Shorne Woods Country Park with Lyn Palmer. I took over from Lyn in 2009 and have spent the past 8 years working as a community archaeologist for Kent County Council, mostly on Lottery funded projects. This work has been varied and hugely rewarding. The sites investigated have spanned periods from the Mesolithic to the 20th century. The ten-year programme of community excavation at Randall Manor is key amongst these.

RT: Describe the role of a community archaeologist.

AM: I see the role of a community archaeologist as an enabler, a facilitator, a delegator, a supervisor, a director of fieldwork, a volunteer manager, a communicator, a public face of archaeology, a confidant, a friend and a supporter of others.

RT: Has the role changed since you started in 2009?

AM: Elements of the role change from project to project. The more projects you are involved with, the more contacts you make and the greater the correspondence you receive! Social media and the web enable you to reach a larger audience, but you still need legwork to generate interest in projects. Administration and the financial management of projects can take up a lot of time. I still enjoy every day of the job and the interactions with both volunteers and the public alike.

RT: In Kent, I think it’s fair to say a great deal of fieldwork archaeology is developer-led – do you see this as a threat to your role?

AM: There will always be a calling for community archaeologists to run community projects. These could be embedded within a County Council or within an archaeological unit. Working for a County Council does open doors. I am lucky to work within a great team at the Council, whose work is often overlooked and under-appreciated. Large development projects are increasingly including community archaeology as part of a suite of heritage actions.

RT: Do you think there is a role or even a future for the amateur archaeologist?

AM: Community archaeology projects could not succeed without the passion of the amateur archaeologist. Hundreds of people took part in the excavation of Randall Manor, as amateurs working to a high archaeological standard. I could not do my job as a community archaeologist without the passion and commitment of the volunteers I work with. As much as I would like to pay them all, they want to be involved because the projects interest them, they are not interested in being paid a wage. That said, I try my hardest to ensure the volunteers never feel taken advantage of.

RT: What are the biggest challenges facing a community archaeologist in Kent at the moment?

AM: The long-term funding of community archaeologists will always be an issue, whether they work for a Council or a commercial unit. Unfortunately, much of our work is project funded rather than role funded. I would like to look at ways to encourage the Lottery in the future to consider funding a person, rather than a project. The benefits that a community archaeologist brings to the wider community range from health to education.

RT: What would you say are the most important characteristics a community archaeologist should possess?

AM: A community archaeologist needs to be a good communicator, someone not afraid to take charge but also delegate. Someone who can build relationships, mentor, who also has a breadth of archaeological knowledge both across periods and methods. A sense of humour also helps!

RT: Where do you see the role in ten years’ time?

AM: I am sure that there will still be a need for community archaeologists in ten years’ time. The lottery will still be funding community archaeological projects. I would hope that there is a greater acceptance of the need for a community archaeologist role that is not exclusively to set projects, as discussed above. From a personal perspective, I hope I am still involved in community archaeology, perhaps mentoring the next generation of community archaeologists. I have learnt so much over the past eight years and yet still have so much to learn!