Archaeology in Oxford

Oxford boasts a rich archaeological heritage, ranging from prehistoric settlements to a nationally significant Roman pottery industry and over 1,000 years of urban development. The city's built heritage has an international reputation, and the layers of history preserved below ground have proved to be equally exceptional.

Our Archaeologist is pivotal in sustainably developing 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 for Oxford

Oxford City Council maintains the Historic Environment Record (HER) for the local authority area, including the Urban Archaeological Database (UAD) for the city's historic core. More information is available on the Heritage Gateway Website.

Developers and archaeological contractors, please note that the Heritage Gateway does not always have the most current UAD and HER versions. For planning-related reports, directly consult the relevant databases for up-to-date asset information.

Download the Historic Environment Record Information Services Policy.

Recent archaeological work in Oxford

Short summary reports of recent archaeological work can be downloaded below. These reports are produced for the Oxford City and County Archaeological Forum which normally meets three times a year.

Download Archaeological Work Summaries.

Annual Monitoring Statement

The reports below provide an overview of the impact of development on archaeological assets in the city by calendar year.

See the Annual Monitoring Statement for Archaeological Assets 2023.

Download Archaeological Annual Monitoring Statements from previous years.