National Council for Archaeological Research
The National Council for Archaeological Research (CNRA) is a national scientific advisory body to the Minister of Culture. The Council is competent for questions relating to archaeological research throughout France.
The missions of the CNRA
The Council shall be consulted on any matter referred to it by the Minister of Culture in the field of archaeology. It shall examine and propose any measure relating to the scientific study of archaeological heritage and its inventory, the publication and dissemination of research results and the protection, conservation and enhancement of this heritage.
Thus, it proposes to the Minister of Culture the general objectives of research, ensures a scientific prospective mission, as well as the national harmonization of interregional programs. It emits opinion on the principles, methods and standards of archaeological research.
The CNRA periodically prepares a report on the state of archaeological research, in order to update the national programming of archaeological research. The document National programming of archaeological research, edition 2023, is available for consultation in its working version July 11, pending final release in the fall.
In June 2023, the Assises scientifiques de l'archéologie française, in France and abroad
To share the national programming project with all actors in archaeology, the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres and the CNRA organized, on June 6 and 7, 2023, «Scientific Assizes of French Archaeology, in France and abroad». The videos of the conferences and thematic round tables that animated these days are available online on the website of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres, pending publication of the acts.
The CNRA issues opinions on applications for accreditation or authorisation of operators of preventive archaeology.
It is also responsible for drawing up a list of experts, representative of the various scientific fields of the archaeological discipline, to determine the value of certain objects discovered during excavations or fortuitously, in the event of disagreement in the implementation of the procedures for the acquisition of such property by the State.
They are appointed by the Minister of Culture on the proposal of the CNRA. The list is published in the Official Bulletin of the Ministry of Culture of March 9, 2017 (titles and attachments are those of Official bulletin).
From the Palaeolithic to the Mesolithic
- Catherine Cretin, Heritage Curator, National Museum of Prehistory, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac: Upper Palaeolithic
- Patrick Paillet, lecturer, Muséum national d'histoire naturelle - Musée de l'homme, Paris: Paleolithic and prehistoric art
- Catherine Schwab, Chief Heritage Curator, Musée d'archéologie nationale, St-Germain-en-Laye: Palaeolithic
From the Neolithic to the Metal Ages
- Catherine Louboutin, Chief Heritage Curator, Assistant to the Director of the Musée d'archéologie nationale, St-Germain-en-Laye: Neolithic and Bronze Age
- Rolande Simon-Millot, Heritage Curator, Musée d'archéologie nationale, St-Germain-en-Laye: Bronze Age
- Laïla Ayache, Heritage Curator, Bibracte Museum, St-Léger-sous-Beuvray: Iron Age
- Sylvia Nieto-Pelletier, CNRS researcher (Iramat-CEB, UMR 5060 du CNRS), Orléans: Iron Age and Celtic numismatics
- Katherine Gruel, research director at the CNRS (Aoroc, UMR 8546 of the CNRS-ENS), Paris: Iron Age and Celtic numismatics
- Thierry Lejars, researcher at the CNRS (Aoroc, UMR 8546 of the CNRS-ENS), Paris: Iron age and metal industry
Antiquity
- Julien Olivier, librarian in the department of coins, medals and antiques of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris: Greek numismatics
- Hélène Shew, Chief Heritage Curator, Musée d'archéologie nationale, St-Germain-en-Laye: Gallo-Roman Antiquity
- Sophie Jugie, General Curator of Heritage, Louvre Museum, Paris: Roman Antiquity and Ancient Sculpture
- Dominique Hollard, curator of libraries, department of coins, medals and antiques of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris: Roman numismatics
- Claude Sintès, Chief Curator of Heritage, Director of the Museum of Ancient Arles, Arles: Roman Antiquity
Middle Ages
- Anaïs Boucher, heritage curator, Musée d'archéologie nationale, St-Germain-en-Laye: Merovingian period
- Marc Bompaire, Director of Studies, École pratique des hautes études, Paris: numismatic medieval and modern
- Élisabeth Taburet-Delahaye, General Curator of Heritage, Director of the Musée national du Moyen Âge-thermes and Hôtel de Cluny, Paris: Merovingian and Middle Ages
- Damien Berné, heritage curator, Musée national du Moyen Âge - thermes et hôtel de Cluny, Paris: sculpture
- Michel Huynh, Chief Curator of Heritage, Musée national du Moyen Âge - thermes et hôtel de Cluny, Paris: everyday objects
- Sophie Lagabriel, General Curator of Heritage, Musée national du Moyen Âge - thermes et hôtel de Cluny, Paris: glass
Modern and contemporary periods
- Jérôme Jambu, Heritage Curator, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris: French numismatics, from Western Europe and the Americas from the 16th to the 19th century
- Thierry Crepin-Leblond, general curator of heritage, director of the National Museum of the Renaissance, Écouen: Italian majolica and Limousin enamels of the Modern Era
- Muriel Barbier, heritage curator, Musée national de la Renaissance, Écouen: furniture and textiles
- Guillaume Fonkenell, heritage curator, Musée national de la Renaissance, Écouen: modern sculpture
- Aurélie Gerbier, heritage curator, Musée national de la Renaissance, Écouen: ceramics from the 15th to the 17th century
- Julie Rohou, Heritage Curator, Musée national de la Renaissance, Écouen: goldsmithing and weapons of the Modern Era
- Valérie Goedert, Head of the Library and Documentation Department, Musée national de la Renaissance, Écouen: ironwork of the Modern Era
Specialties
- David Guillet, Deputy Director of the Musée de l'Armée, Paris: militaria all epochs
- André Delpuech, general curator of heritage, director of the Musée de l'homme - Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris: pre-Columbian period
The CNRA includes a specialized commission: the commission of underwater operations.
The missions and operation of the CNRA are governed by articles L.545-1 and R.545-1 to R.545-15 of the Heritage Code.
The composition of the CNRA
The CNRA includes 34 members who represent the diversity of institutions and professionals working in archaeology. It is chaired by the Minister of Culture or, in his absence, by a Vice-President, appointed by ministerial order. Anne Lehoërff, university professor, was reappointed as Vice-President of the CNRA by order of 13 September 2020.
The next renewal of the CNRA will take place in 2024.
Ex officio members
Five representatives of the State are ex officio members:
- the director general of heritage and architecture at the Ministry of Culture
- a representative of the Directorate General of Heritage and Architecture at the Ministry of Culture
- a representative of the general delegation for transmission, territories and cultural democracy at the Ministry of Culture
- the Director General of Research and Innovation at the Ministry of Research, Higher Education and Innovation
- the Director General of Higher Education and Professional Integration at the Ministry of Research, Higher Education and Innovation
The appointed members
Fifteen qualified individuals are appointed for four years because of their scientific expertise in archaeology:
- Anne Lehoërff, University Professor, CY Cergy Paris Université, Vice-President
- Laure Barthet, heritage curator, director of the Musée Saint-Raymond in Toulouse
- Marie Besse, university professor, head of the laboratory of prehistoric and anthropological archaeology, University of Geneva
- Fabien Blanc-Garidel, Chief Curator of Heritage, Head of Archaeology Department Nice Côte d'Azur
- Sébastien Bully, CNRS researcher, deputy director of UMR 6298 Artehis, Dijon
- Sophie Casadebaig, chief curator of heritage, head of the departmental archaeological service of Morbihan
- Diane Dusseaux, heritage curator, director of the archaeological site of Lattara - musée Henri Prades, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole
- Marie-Agnès Gaidon-Bunuel, General Curator of Heritage, Deputy Regional Curator of Archaeology at the Drac Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- Vincent Guichard, Director General of the European Archaeological Centre of Mont Beuvray, Glux-en-Glenne
- Olivier Lemercier, University Professor, Université Paul Valéry-Montpellier 3
- Véronique Matterne, research director at the CNRS, Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris
- François Meylan, director of the Mont Beuvray agency, Archeodunum company
- Clément Paris, Operations Manager, Inrap Hauts-de-France
- Marie-Cécile Truc, research engineer at Inrap Grand-Est-Nord, Reims
- Jonathan Vidal, research engineer, Regional Department of Archaeology of Drac Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Elected members
Twelve members are elected, for four years, from among them, by the territorial archaeological research commissions (CTRA):
- Stéphane Ardouin, Senior Conservation Attaché, Archaeological Service of the City of Lyon, member of the CTRA Sud-Ouest
- Benoît Bérard, university professor, University of the West Indies, member of the CTRA Outre-Mer
- Gaël Brkojewitsch, heritage conservation attaché, preventive archaeology pole of Metz Métropole, member of the CTRA Ouest
- Morgane Dachary, Research Engineer, Regional Archaeological Service of Drac Nouvelle-Aquitaine, member of the CTRA Sud-Est
- Hervé Delhoofs, archaeologist, Eveha society, member of the CTRA Sud-Ouest
- Sylvie Faravel, lecturer, University of Bordeaux-Montaigne, member of CTRA Ouest
- Christophe Gilabert, Heritage Curator, Regional Archaeological Service of the Drac Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, member of the CTRA Centre-Nord
- Jean-François Goret, Conservation Attaché, Department of History of Architecture and Archaeology of the City of Paris, member of the CTRA Sud-Est
- Séverine Hurard, research engineer at Inrap Île-de-France, member of CTRA Outre-Mer
- Jenny Kaurin, Heritage Curator, Regional Archaeological Service of the Drac Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, member of the CTRA Centre-Nord
- Jean-Marie Laruaz, Heritage Conservation Attaché, Department of Archaeology of the Indre-et-Loire County Council, member of the CTRA Est
- Stéfan Tzortzis, Heritage Curator, Regional Archaeological Service of the Drac Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, member of the CTRA Sud-Est
When does the CNRA meet?
The CNRA meets in plenary four to five times a year.
In 2024, the Council’s plenary sessions are scheduled for February 6 and 7, April 3 and 4, May 22 and 23, September 11 and 12.
CNRA Submarine Operations Commission
The main task of the Committee on Underwater Operations (COSM) is to define national programmes in the field of underwater research, in particular in connection with the annual activity report of the Department of Underwater and Underwater Archaeological Research (Drassm) which is submitted to him for opinion.
The Submarine Operations Commission is composed of 11 members and is chaired by Anne Lehoërff, Vice-President of the CNRA. This commission, whose members are appointed for four years, was renewed in November 2021 (ministerial order of 25 November 2021).
Since its last renewal, the CNRA’s Submarine Operations Commission consists of:
Two ex officio members:
- the director general of heritage and architecture at the Ministry of Culture
- Anne Lehoërff, University Professor, CY Cergy Paris Université, Vice-President of the CNRA
Four qualified personalities:
- Fabien Blanc-Garidel, Chief Curator of Heritage, Head of Archaeology Department Nice Côte d'Azur
- Laure Barthet, heritage curator, director of the Musée Saint-Raymond in Toulouse
- Benoît Devillers, lecturer in physical geography, University of Montpellier III
- Sabrina Marlier, conservation attaché, Musée départemental Arles Antique
Five elected members of the Territorial Archaeological Research Commissions (CTRA) with a maritime façade:
- Benoît Bérard, university professor, University of the West Indies, member of the CTRA Outre-Mer
- Sylvie Faravel, lecturer, University of Bordeaux-Montaigne, member of CTRA Ouest
- Thibault Lachenal, CNRS researcher, UMR 5140 - Archaeology of Mediterranean Societies, member of the CTRA Centre-Nord
- Julien Ollivier, study engineer, regional archaeological service of Drac Occitanie, member of the CTRA Sud-Est
- Catherine Rigeade, Operations and Research Officer, Inrap Méditerranée, member of CTRA Sud-Ouest
The work of the CNRA in 2022
In 2022, the National Council for Archaeological Research held five plenary sessions (2 February, 6 and 7 April, 8 June, 5 October and 29 and 30 November) and twice convened the Commission for Underwater Operations (13 May in Marseille and 20 October). In addition, the thematic day of June 9 at the Museum of Art and History of Judaism in Paris allowed the members of the Council to discuss the theme «Archaeology in the face of environmental issues: what responsible approach?».
Examination of files related to licensed and approved preventive archaeology operators
In 2022, the Council continued to devote a significant part of its time to monitoring the scientific activity of preventive archaeology operators.
It examined the requests for authorisation made by the last three local authorities still covered by the accreditation system. Thus, in June 2022, all the archaeological services of the territorial collectivities passed under the regime of the habilitation. In parallel, the CNRA assessed the first four five-year assessments of the archaeological services authorized in 2017.
It also issued opinions:
– on 3 requests for extension of authorisations already granted;
– out of 13 cases involving substantial changes;
– on 1 request to lift a partial temporary suspension of an authorisation.
Finally, the CNRA examined two applications for five-year renewal of approvals for preventive archaeology operators.
The Council’s main areas of work in 2022
The updating of the national archaeological research programming has been the main subject of work of the CNRA in 2022, which now has 16 axes, to be finalized at the end of 2023.
Presented to NACC:
- Chronological and thematic scientific summaries of the 2017-2021 quadrennial reviews of Territorial Commissions for Archaeological Research (CTRA) ;
- the conclusions of the working group on human bone sampling and analysis protocols and on sample conservation (PAOHCE);
- the National Archaeological Data and Sample Bank (BeDNA);
- teaching sheets on the selective conservation of movable archaeological property;
- the project to set up a working group on archaeological iron furniture.
As a result of what the Council has issued three opinions :
- “CNRA Opinion on Archaeological Looting and Recreational Remote Sensing” (March 2022);
- “CNRA Advice on Human Bone Collection, Analysis and Sample Retention” (April 2022);
- “CNRA opinion on the draft national archeogenic data and sample bank” (April 2022).
In addition, a news item was made on the archaeological monitoring carried out by the regional archaeological service of Île-de-France and on the archaeological excavation conducted by INRAP at the crossing of the transept of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Finally, the last plenary session of 2022 was an opportunity for a first reflection on the project to hold «Scientific Assizes of Archaeology» in June 2023.
CNRA Thematic Retreat on June 9, 2022
Opened by Paul Salmona, Director of the Museum of Art and History of Judaism, which hosted the Council, as well as by Jean-François Hébert, Director General of Heritage and Architecture, this day allowed to exchange, from a range of emblematic cases, on the evolution of the archaeological approach to the challenges of climate and environmental change.
The following topics were discussed:
- the question of archaeological remains affected in 2020 in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region by storm Alex;
- environmental and archaeological issues in mountain and glacier contexts;
- the interest of the study of «speleothems» in archaeological context;
- environmental issues in underground environments;
- the role of regional archaeological services in the face of changes in mountain environments;
- the preservation of palafittes and other archaeological remains of the peri-alpine lakes in the face of global change;
- the preservation of coastal maritime heritage in the face of environmental challenges;
- the question of the temporalities of coastal erosion in the Lesser Antilles (cyclones, sea level rise) and their consequences in terms of heritage management;
- environmental issues and those of the archaeology of life.
These topics will be fully integrated into the new scientific programming of national archaeology.