We have a good response to the survey about the Archaeological Research Framework for Wales so far, but would love to have a few more. If you haven't filled it in yet here's the link again.

The survey will close on Saturday night so please take a few minutes to fill it in and do pass it on to friends and colleagues who may not have seen it.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5VY3B6H

The first review papers and updated bibliographies for the Medieval and Palaeoenvironmental themes are now available on the website.

Steve Burrow, NMGW, has been confirmed as the new Chair of the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age themed period, so the Chairs for the review are as follows:

•Elizabeth Walker - Palaeolithic and Mesolithic,

•Steve Burrow - Neolithic and Early Bronze Age,
•Fiona Gale - Later Bronze Age and Iron Age,
•Jeff Davies - Roman,
•Nancy Edwards - Early Medieval,
•David Austin - Medieval,
•David Gwyn - Post Medieval 1539-1750,
•Stephen Hughes - Post Medieval 1750 - Present Day,
•Sian Rees - Maritime,
•Astrid Caseldine - Palaeoenvironmental

The brief for the review process that was given to the chairs of national working groups is now on the website under Documents. 

At a Research Framework Steering Group meeting on 24th September it was decided that the review of the Framework would be undertaken using the same working group structure as had been used for the original work. The minutes of this meeting are on the Research Framework website under Documents, http://www.archaeoleg.org.uk/pdf/steeringgroup24sept09.pdf

It was agreed that the original Chairs of each National working group would be approached and asked if they were still willing to carry on in this voluntary role, and if not, if they would suggest someone else to take their place. To date two Chairs have stood down, Gwilym Hughes for the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, and approaches are currently being made about a new Chair, and Stephen Briggs for the Post Medieval 1539-1750, with David Gwyn taking up the role.
So the full list of Chairs at the moment are:

• Elizabeth Walker - Palaeolithic and Mesolithic,
• TBC - Neolithic and Early Bronze Age,
• Fiona Gale - Later Bronze Age and Iron Age,
• Jeff Davies - Roman,
• Nancy Edwards - Early Medieval,
• David Austin - Medieval,
• David Gwyn - Post Medieval 1539-1750,
• Stephen Hughes - Post Medieval 1750 - Present Day,
• Sian Rees - Maritime,
• Astrid Caseldine - Palaeoenvironmental

Each Chair is being encouraged to consult as widely as possible, but each is doing this in a different manner - some are using seminars as well as group work, for instance the prehistoric groups are having a seminar prior to the Bronze Age conference in Cardiff, others are having meetings of revamped working groups. If you have a point you would like to raise, please make use of the feedback forum, or contact the relevant person directly to offer your help.  Draft documents will start to appear on the website during the spring and your comments on these will be very important.  The conference in September will be another opportunity for you to add to the process. 

 

Jenny