Oxford has a rich and diverse archaeological heritage that encompasses prehistoric settlement, a nationally important Roman pottery industry and a historic core that has experienced over 1,000 years of urban development. The built heritage of Oxford has an international reputation and the layers of history preserved below ground have proved to be equally exceptional.
Our Archaeologist plays a key role in the sustainable development of Oxford's historic environment by:
- Advising on the likely impact of proposed developments on heritage assets
- Maintaining up to date information about Oxford's historic environment
- Encouraging community engagement, research and sharing of knowledge.
The Historic Environment Record (HER) for Oxford
We maintain the Historic Environment Record for the Oxford Local Authority Area. This includes the Urban Archaeological Database (UAD) for Oxford which covers the historic core of the city. Further details on this service are available on the Heritage Gateway Website.
Developers and archaeological contractors please note that the Heritage Gateway is not maintained as an up to date version of the UAD and HER. The relevant databases should therefore be consulted directly for any asset information that is to be used in planning related reports.
Historic Environment Record Information Services Policy
Recent archaeological work in the city
Short summary reports of recent archaeological work can be downloaded as PDF files below. These reports are produced for the Oxford City and County Archaeological Forum which normally meets three times a year.
Annual Monitoring Statement
The reports below provide an overview of the impact of development on archaeological assets in the city by calendar year.
