UK Intro

The Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers (ALGAO) was originally formed in 1996 (through merger of the Association of County Archaeological Officers and Council of District Archaeological Officers) to represent all archaeologists working for local authorities and national parks.

Until recent years membership was predominantly in England and Wales (with representatives from N Ireland and I of Man), local governmernt archaeologists in Scotland being represented by a separate organisation, the Association of Regional and Island Archaeologists (ARIA).

In June 2006 ALGAO formally merged with ARIA to become a fully UK-wide organisation, ALGAO:UK, with national organisations ALGAO:Cymru, ALGAO:Scotland and ALGAO:England, and, in England, a network of regional committees coincident with Government regions.

Member local authorities are represented by the senior professional archaeologist (employed directly within the authority or in some cases by independent joint services) whose primary responsibility is to advise that authority, principally through the planning process, on conservation and management of the archaeological resource within the boundaries of that authority, and who has been nominated by that authority to represent it. The Association's members include representatives of metropolitan authorities, shire counties, unitary authorities, London boroughs, national parks and historic cities, towns and boroughs across England, Wales and Scotland as well as representatives from Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.