Operators of preventive archaeology
Preventive archaeology operations ordered by the State must be carried out by professional structures: «preventive archaeology operators». Whether public or private, the operators are specialized in archaeological intervention. Their competence is assessed and recognized by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Higher Education.
Who are the operators of preventive archaeology?
There are three types of preventive archaeology operators: INRAP, local authorities and private operators.
Diagnoses must be carried out by a public operator: Inrap or authorised local authority.
Excavations may be carried out by Inrap, an authorised local authority or an authorised private operator. The developer, owner of the archaeological operation, will have to contract with the operator of his choice.
Inrap
The National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research is a public institution competent throughout the national territory to:
- the diagnosis;
- the search;
- all periods;
- all fields of intervention: on land, at sea and in inland waters;
- all the national territory.
Contact Inrap
Archaeological services of local authorities
The archaeological services of local authorities are subject to scientific and technical control by the State.
They may be authorised as operators of preventive archaeology after evaluation of their request by the National Archaeological Research Council. The accreditation is granted by the ministers responsible for culture and higher education. Since 2017, this accreditation has been permanent.
Every 5 years, the authorized operator must submit a scientific, administrative, social, technical and financial report to the Ministry of Culture. All the information to write a report is in our sheet The five-year review of authorized operators in preventive archaeology.
The authorized community and diagnosis
The authorized community archaeological service is authorized to perform diagnostics. It may:
- commit for a period of three years to carry out all diagnoses on its territory;
- choose to take charge of the diagnosis in its territory.
Each project is then proposed to him by the regional directorate of cultural affairs (the Drac). He has 14 days to decide whether to take it or not. If he does not want or cannot carry out the project, Inrap does.
The archaeological services of local authorities are authorized for diagnostics on land and in inland waters. They are not authorized for diagnoses at sea.
For the diagnosis, the developer does not directly ask the operator of preventive archaeology. It is the Drac who takes charge.
The authorized community and the search
The authorization authorizes the archaeological community service to carry out excavations:
- in his region;
- for one or more time periods;
- on land and in inland waters.
Contact the authorised operators
To know which operators are authorized, their area and their period of competence, consult our directory The authorised operators
Les entreprises privées et les associations
Les entreprises privées et les associations peuvent être agréées en tant qu’opérateurs d’archéologie préventive après évaluation de leur demande par le Conseil national de la recherche archéologique. L’agrément leur est attribué par les ministres chargés de la culture et de l’enseignement supérieur pour réaliser des fouilles :
- pour toute la France ;
- pour une ou plusieurs périodes chronologiques ;
- sur terre, dans les eaux intérieures, en mer.
Les opérateurs agréés ne réalisent pas de diagnostics, ils ne sont autorisés que pour les fouilles.
L’agrément est valable 5 ans. Tous les ans, l’opérateur agréé doit présenter un bilan scientifique, administratif, social, technique et financier au ministère de la Culture. Tous les 5 ans, il doit présenter une demande de renouvellement de son agrément.
Contacter les opérateurs agréés
Pour savoir quels sont les opérateurs agréés et leur(s) période(s) de compétence, consultez notre répertoire Les opérateurs agréés.
How to apply for authorisation or approval?
The authorization or approval of operator of preventive archaeology is obtained on request. To develop his file, the candidate for accreditation can use our practical sheets.
The candidate is strongly advised to contact the regional department of archaeology at the regional directorate for cultural affairs who will accompany him in his approach.
The application file must be submitted one month before the plenary sessions of the National Council for Archaeological Research. It should be sent to:
Ministry of Culture
Under the direction of archaeology
182 Saint-Honoré Street
75033 Paris cedex 01
The practical sheets
Application files and balance sheets must meet certain form and content requirements. To help you, consult our factsheets.