An educated citizen will get more enjoyment from living here, through an understanding of the historical forces that have shaped our communities and countryside, our institutions, and other facets of our national and local life. But there has been a longstanding imbalance in the teaching of archaeology and history in schools. History for many primary schools begins with the Romans and does not necessarily deal with all subsequent periods through to modern times. Pupils over the age of 13 in secondary schools will seldom study any history before the last 150 years. Medieval and early modern history have all but disappeared.
Regulation can never protect more than a fraction of the historic environment.
Willing stewardship by local people with an educated concern for their past can do so much more. We welcome the Government s resolve to make improved public access a priority in its reforms. As archaeologists, we call for open access to the historic environment. This may seem like an uncontroversial request, easily granted. We say, however, that there is no access where there is no understanding.