Alternative futures for European archaeologists

The Valletta Convention limits the right to excavate to those professionally qualified, which prevents amateurs from opportunities to undertake invasive research. This potentially contradicts the terms of other Conventions – especially the Faro Convention – which specifically grants citizens rights of access to culture. This poses a question for archaeologists: do we insist on our status as professionals as the only acceptable excavators? or do we embrace a move towards greater non-professional involvement in our work? This article offers suggestions as to how either approach may be put into effect in terms of European legal instruments. It passes no judgement on which is the correct direction of travel, but instead outlines the means and the consequences for archaeology of each.