The British government thinks archaeology doesn’t matter. It couldn’t be more wrong
The UK government’s recent announcement that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) courses and medicine will receive a greater proportion of its Higher Education Teaching Grant is wonderful news for these sectors.
It is, however, a major blow for archaeology. With class time, fieldwork and lab work all part of the curriculum, archaeology
Apollo Magazine
February 4, 2021
© LARRY HORRICKS/NETFLIX
was originally included among the government’s ‘intermediate cost subjects’ and therefore received a portion of this grant to help cover costs. Now though, re-classified as ‘high-cost non-strategic’, its funding will be cut by 50 per cent.
This will have far-reaching consequences for universities’ capacity to teach the subject effectively. There could be fewer places offered on archaeology courses, exacerbating a decline in graduate numbers that began in 2008. Archaeology departments might close or reduce in size. Jobs could be lost. The government justifies its decision by saying that ‘healthcare, STEM and specific labour market needs’ are the ‘priorities of the nation’.
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