The establishment of the four Welsh Archaeological Trusts was initiated by the then Ancient Monuments Branch of the Department of the Environment at a time when considerable concern was being expressed throughout the UK about the loss of archaeological remains. In a bold and innovative move the DoE created four Trusts in Wales which were aligned to the new counties created in 1974. These became established as the Gwynedd, Clwyd-Powys, Dyfed and GlamorganGwent Archaeological Trusts.
They are Registered Charities with the same charitable object – ‘to advance the education of the public in archaeology’. Conceived as bodies that would have the ability to respond continuously to threats to the archaeological resource, whether by development, agricultural practices or natural erosion, the trustees and first directors soon developed a vision for the Trusts that in the context of public engagement and education they should take a proactive role in the management and conservation of the historic environment, rather than simply reacting to events.
This underlying vision has continued under successive Trust managements. Holding to core values whilst modernizing when necessary has helped the Trusts to flourish for over four decades during which national and local government has been reorganized, historic environment legislation and regulation has developed, archaeology has become a profession, and technology has revolutionized practice.
