Operators of preventive archaeology
Preventive archaeology operations ordered by the State must be carried out by professional structures: the «preventive archaeology operators». Whether public or private, operators are specialized in archaeological intervention. Their competence is assessed and recognised by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Higher Education.
Who are the preventive archaeology operators?
There are three types of preventive archaeology operators: Inrap, local authorities and private operators.
Diagnosis is obligatory 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, the contracting authority for the archaeological operation, will have to contract with the operator of his choice.
The Inrap
The National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research is a public institution responsible for:
- the diagnosis;
- the search;
- all periods;
- all areas areas: on land, sea and inland waters;
- the entire national territory.
Contact the 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 preventive archaeology operators after assessment of their application by the National Council for Archaeological Research. They are given the authority by the ministers responsible for culture and higher education. Since 2017, this authority has been permanent.
Every five years, the authorised 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 empowered community and diagnosis
The authorized community archaeological service is authorized to carry out diagnostics. It may:
- undertake for a period of three years to carry out all diagnostics in its territory;
- choose to take charge of the diagnosis on a case-by-case basis.
Each project is then proposed to him by the regional direction of cultural affairs (the Drac). It has 14 days to decide whether it will take it or not. If it does not want or cannot carry out the project, the Inrap does.
The archaeological services of local authorities are authorised for diagnosis on land and in inland waters. They are not authorized for diagnostics at sea.
For the diagnosis, the developer does not directly ask the preventive archaeology operator. The Drac is in charge.
The Empowered Community and the Search
The authorization authorizes the community archaeological service to carry out excavations:
- in his region;
- for one or more chronological periods;
- on land and inland waters.
Contact the territorial operators
To find out which operators are authorised, their area and their period of competence, consult our directory The territorial operators.
Private enterprises and associations
Private companies and associations may be approved as preventive archaeology operators after assessment of their application by the National Council for Archaeological Research. They are approved by the ministers responsible for culture and higher education to conduct excavations:
- for all of France;
- for one or more chronological periods;
- on land, in inland waters, at sea.
Authorized operators do not perform diagnostics, they are only authorized for searches.
The approval is valid for 5 years. Every year, the authorized operator must submit a scientific, administrative, social, technical and financial report to the Ministry of Culture. Every 5 years, they must submit an application to renew their registration.
Contact private operators
To find out which authorized operators and their period(s) of competence, consult our directory Private operators.
How to apply for authorisation or accreditation?
The authorisation or approval of preventive archaeology operator is obtained on request. To develop their application, the candidate for authorisation or accreditation can use our practical sheets.
Applicants are strongly advised to contact the Regional Archaeology Service at the regional cultural affairs directorate who will accompany him in his walk.
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 reviews must meet certain form and content requirements. To help you, consult our fact sheets.