TERMS OF REFERENCE
Archeology advisor/trainer
ST HELENA GOVERNMENT
Background
The island of St Helena, an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom (UK) is of volcanic
origin and covers 47 square miles in the South Atlantic Ocean. St Helena is over 4,000 miles
from the UK, 700 miles southeast of Ascension Island, and 1,700 miles from South Africa.
The Island’s total population is around 4,000 persons, about 25% of whom live in the capital,
Jamestown. The climate is kept mild and equable by the southeast trade winds and
temperatures range from 14-32 degrees centigrade in the summer and 14-26 degrees
centigrade in winter. The economy is small and is mainly based on offshore employment,
agriculture, fishing and more recently a small but growing volume of tourism. Most
commodities are imported and St Helena relies heavily on UK Aid to support essential
services and livelihoods.
St Helena currently has no airfield and therefore the only regular mode of access to the
Island is via the Royal Mail Ship (RMS) St Helena, which calls roughly 25 times a year,
shuttling between St Helena, Ascension, and Cape Town. I. In November 2011 the
announcement was made that an airport would be built on the island. The ‘airport project’
is now underway and the airport is currently scheduled to open in early 2016.
SHG has adopted a policy framework of three high level Goals and eight key result areas.
This framework builds upon the structure developed as part of the 2012/13 -2014/15
Sustainable Development Plan and sets out Government’s policy priorities. These priorities
form the basis for all planning, target setting and resource allocation within each
Directorate.
Archaeology and SHG – the current situation.
Currently there is no clear ‘home’ for archaeology within the St. Helena Government
Structure.
 The Environmental Management Directorate leads on Environmental Impact
Assessments (a process through which archaeological impacts can be identified)
however archaeology is not part of the current EMD responsibility/portfolio of work.

The Museum Director (MD) who has been allocated the role of SHG archaeology lead
for the airport project, has provided support in the past with the Jamestown Rockfall Protection Project and continues to support SHG, the last examples being the
refurbishment/upgrade of the Power Station in Rupert’s Valley, however the current
MD is not an archaeologist and has a dual NGO/SHG role.
There have been some initiatives focussing on archaeology, but these have been reactive
and there is no comprehensive approach to considering archaeology within SHG.
2.

SHG commissioned a piece of work to develop a Historic Environment Record (HER),
which has resulted in an inventory identifying a number of sites of built heritage and
archaeological significance.

The airport project itself has identified an approach to considering archaeology,
which has included an archaeological mitigation project, the development and
implementation of archaeological protocols, supported by access to technical
expertise through a ‘call down’ relationship.

Although there is no statutory requirement for Archaeological Impact Assessment
(AIA) on St Helena. SHG’s planning process requires an environmental screening for
developments requiring planning permission, which determines whether or not an
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) needs to be undertaken; Archaeology can be
identified under the EIA process. However the Environmental Management
Directorate (EMD), do not have the background baseline data to know where all of
the sites of archaeological importance are and subsequently some areas that might
be archeologically important are not always identified as such in the EIA. Similarly
there is no technical expertise available to input into proposals for management and
mitigation measures.
Key Objectives
The key objectives of this consultancy would be:
(1) To establish the nature of, and create a system for effective management of, St.
Helena’s archaeological resource that can be implemented within existing financial
and human resource constraints.
(2) To prepare all documentation required to gain approvals to implement this system,
and to train relevant staff in application and implementation of the system.
3.
Scope of Work
Key area of work would be comprised the following:
Part 1 – Baseline information and system
 What do we have?
o Spot check review of the recently produced Historic Environment Record
(HER) to confirm that it provides the baseline inventory for sites and artefacts
of archaeological significance.
o Create a system/process for adding new sites and artefacts of archaeological
significance to the HER.

What do we do with what we have? Create a system that dovetails consideration
of archaeology into existing planning and monitoring systems and processes. This
can potentially include (subject to discussion on award of the contract) the
following:
o Management: Create a protocol for managing known sites and artefacts of
archaeological importance. NOTE: these should be able to feed into wider
management planning e.g. National Conservation Area Management Plans.
o Guidance: Create guidance for:

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Sites/artefacts of archaeological importance for land owners,
planners, and developers.
Environment monitors to include guidance on watching briefs.
Part 2: Institutional development and training:
 In consultation with stakeholders, propose a system for implementing the
guidance above, with a recommendation for where responsibility within SHG
should lie and associated resource requirements.
 Once responsibility has been established, train/facilitate the training of relevant
staff/individuals in use of the tools developed, and in field excavations and
undertaking watching briefs.
 Establish a satisfactory arrangement with the Museum of St Helena, as a
repository for the proper curation of recovered cultural materials.
Part 3: On-going technical support and advice

Provide on-going call down technical support for up to 24 days over 6 months and
advice to St. Helena Government as required by SHG officers.
4.
Qualifications and experience
4.1
Essential
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4.2
5.
At least 4 years’ experience of developing, or inputting into the development of
archaeological, policies, protocols and/or guidance for decision-makers.
A graduate qualification in field archaeology; MA in archaeology or anthropology
with a specialty in archaeology, or BA with an equivalent combination of postgraduate training and experience.
At least five years’ direct experience in the preparation of screening and scoping
documentation and review/ evaluation of, Archaeological Impact Assessments
Must be a registered member of the Institute for Archaeologist in the U.K. or
equivalent from another country.
Have demonstrated ability to design and conduct archaeological research, and to
complete a final report in a timely manner.
Previous experience in the delivery of training,
Desirable

Experience relating to AIA procedures in small jurisdictions possessing limited
resources.

Have an understanding and a shown appreciation of St Helena Island’s socialcultural heritage and knowledge of known associated material culture.
Outputs, Timing and Reporting
Key Outputs
 Reviewed list of sites and artefacts of archaeological significance.
 Written, approved process for adding to the HER.
 Written protocol for managing known sites and artefacts of archaeological
importance.
 Written system that dovetails consideration of archaeology into existing planning
and monitoring systems and processes.
 Draft memorandum for Executive Council with supporting costed paper outlining
where responsibility for Archaeology within SHG should lie.
 Training materials for field and desk-based training
 At least 3 individuals trained in applying Archaeology process tools, including field
excavations and watching briefs
TIMING
The consultancy can start on award of contract. Parts 1, 2 and 3 can be bid for separately, if
bid for as a single bid, the components should be costed separately. It is envisaged that part
1 and 2 will be completed before the end of March 2013 with on-going technical support
being provided on a call down basis for up to 24 days over six months thereafter.
REPORTING
The appointed will report directly to the Director of the Environmental Management,
liaising with the Planning Officer and Museum Director when required.