Community archaeology and the Heritage Fund in Northern Ireland

ABSTRACT This paper will explore how community archaeological projects supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, through its Landscape Partnership Scheme, have created opportunities for communities to reach a deeper and richer connection with their historical and cultural landscape in a society where the past is contested. Through the creation of those deeper connections, and active engagement by communities in the archaeological process, significant outcomes have been achieved: including greater protection of heritage assets, an enhanced sense of local identity, and a shared understanding of the past, something which is often difficult to achieve in a deeply divided society. The paper draws on the experience of some of the communities, archaeologists and programme managers and their evaluation of the projects.