The Costain and Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) social value teams have created best practice, interdisciplinary methodology for the integration of social value practice with archaeology for major infrastructure projects.
The methodology developed in 2023 places archaeology and heritage at its core to ensure maximum opportunities are identified early on to provide positive outcomes directly linked to community recipients. The collaborative model demonstrates how new thinking on social value from archaeological processes is incorporated into the project lifecycle through integration with standard project design and implementation stages.
Through close working with the customer and project teams, the model ensures outcomes are appropriate and meet the beneficiaries’ aspirations. The digitally-enabled methodology includes engagement with external partners, customers and the wider community, and follows seven steps which cover archaeological potential, exploration of audience demographics, consulting and co-design of a fieldwork strategy, engagement programmes, impact and outcome of archaeological results, output evaluation and reporting.
Through engagement, we have seen mental health and wellbeing benefits for those community groups and site personnel involved. This engagement includes:
- early career osteologists (ECO) scheme supporting the next generation of archaeological experts
- site tours and workshops for community groups and
- site tours to actively promote and educate construction site teams about the identification of archaeological sites and artefacts.
This collaborative partnership has offered direct benefits to communities, archaeological professionals and construction sector employees which supports a proactive approach to the management of risk and opportunity associated with cultural heritage on infrastructure projects.