National Archaeological Archives Contingent Valuation Study

Archaeological archives in the UK are facing a critical shortage of storage capacity by 2027, which threatens the preservation of historical remains. This project aims to gather essential data on the public's economic valuation and willingness to pay for an archaeological national archive. The project will use the Contingent Valuation method to estimate public willingness to pay through a survey of 2,000 people across England. Additionally, the project seeks to raise public awareness about the importance of preserving archaeological archives alongside other economic valuations of archaeology. This will be published through the Culture Heritage Capital programme (CHC) and will likely influence private and public sector decisions.

Archaeological archives hold significant cultural, educational, and non-market value but face funding challenges due to market failures. This study, aligned with the CHC programme, will provide a quantitative valuation of public support, aiding in policy and funding efforts.

This brief is for the collection of survey data only. The data will be analysed by Historic England's economic team to estimate the public's willingness to pay, thereby being cost-effective and cheaper than consultants.