The key element in attaining long-term sustainability will be the formation of a pan-European network of 'centres of expertise', to be known as the ArchaeoLandscapes Network (Europe). This cooperative partnership will secure funding from its members and from grant-giving bodies to support a small professional secretariat or 'nerve-centre'. This in turn will provide expertise, advice and support for organizations or institutions which wish to pursue agreed objectives or to undertake partnership projects within the fields of landscape studies, heritage survey, conservation and public education.
The strength of ArchaeoLandscapes Network will lie in its heterogeneous nature and its total coverage of the countries of Europe, with a membership of 50 or more heritage bodies in the fields of education, research, conservation and public service. It will not rely on any individual institution for its continuing existence and its small secretariat may migrate around Europe over time as staffing opportunities or the availability of expertise dictate. The Network's members will agree key objectives and policies in the early stages of the present project. These will then be implemented, within and after the lifetime of the project, through a General Management Board of 9 representatives, from the Network's member institutions. Content-related and technical issues will be tackled and discussed during 5 technical meetings (the first one during the kick-off plenary meeting) scheduled throughout the project's implementation.
The official launch of the ArchaeoLandscapes Network will be done during the closing project's conference, held in Frankfurt at the beginning of August 2015.
Working Package leaders:
Chris Musson (AARG), William Hanson (Glasgow University)