AOC Research Services

AOC Archaeology Group fosters a research ethos alongside its commercial activities. Research has two main benefits: firstly it contributes to our profession by advancing knowledge; and secondly it allows our staff to develop their professional expertise. In these ways, research can benefit commercial archaeology by developing more highly skilled staff and more effective techniques, and fostering interpretation.

Our research projects span our full range of services including field archaeology, survey, laser scanning, buildings, dendrochronology, artefact studies and conservation. Research projects arise mainly through our staff pursuing their professional interests or through spin-offs from core projects, although we also undertake externally commissioned research. There is also a very strong research element to our community heritage projects. Our research results are published in academic journals or through a series of monographs in collaboration with the Scottish Trust for Archaeological Research (STAR).

Our research projects are usually supported in partnership arrangements, with AOC Archaeology making contributions in kind and support as well as attracting grants and contributions from a wide range of public and charitable bodies.