Archaeologists on strike: "Putting economic interests before the interests of heritage is scandalous!"

Archaeologists are worried on two counts: the tax that funds their work is not fully remitted by the state, and an amendment tabled in the National Assembly risks compromising the principle of preventive archaeology. They demonstrated in Paris this Thursday, June 12.

More than 1,300 people gathered in Paris on Thursday, June 12, to express their disagreement and anger at the public authorities. Already in a bad way, preventive archaeology is further endangered by the amendment recently tabled by Horizons MPs in the National Assembly. If confirmed in mid-June, "this would allow the destruction of our heritage and cut preventive archaeology from a large part of its activity," write the profession's trade unions. Jean-Philippe Baigl, an archaeologist at Inrap (National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research), based in Saintes, sheds light on this strike, which coincides with the Archaeology Days this weekend.

First of all, can you explain the principle of preventive archaeology?

Initially, there is a development project and the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs (DRAC) will prescribe. Not every time, but when it comes to large areas, it's systematic. When we build a highway or a 30-hectare ZAC, we know we're going to cross sites, that we're going to find something, and we need a diagnosis. For smaller areas, it's not automatic. But if we take the example of Saintes, within its perimeter, even for someone who builds a swimming pool or extends their house, there will be a diagnosis because we are within the reach of the ancient city that we know well. The State will look and ask: "Are the remains impacted by the project?" If we dig down 1 meter to make a parking lot, the remains will not be affected. Conversely, if we know that the project will destroy them, then we will carry out preventive excavations.

Why did archaeologists and, more broadly, professionals in the sector go to Paris to demonstrate?

In addition to archaeologists from Inrap, private service providers, and regional archaeology services, namely the Drac, which are prescribing agents of the State, there were also university professors and students. What mobilized them was the very questioning of the law on preventive archaeology. This 2001 law, revised in 2003, ensures the detection, conservation, and study of archaeological sites before they are destroyed. It's preventive, so each time, we intervene on things that will inevitably be destroyed. It's irremediable.

This law, which is a benchmark in Europe, even worldwide, works well. Developers will pay the cost of the excavation and the diagnostics, which allow us to identify sites and thus plan the volume of resources needed for future excavations. This law is financed by a fee on preventive archaeology, paid by all those who carry out developments. Even individuals. And so in 2023, 190 million euros in taxes were collected. The problem is that 50 million euros were not allocated to carry out our missions. This is not normal.

“Without preventive archaeology, there will be no excavations and therefore no major discoveries.”

There is a bill on the simplification of economic life that recently called into question the principle of preventive archaeology through a tabled amendment. What exactly is it?

This is even more serious. Henri Alfandari, a Horizons MP, tabled an amendment with a group of three other MPs from his camp. Article 15 bis C, resulting from this amendment, aims to broaden the types of projects eligible for the classification of "project of major national interest" and to exempt them from any impact study, including those relating to archaeological heritage. For example, to put it more quickly, we could say that for a TGV line route, for major projects of national interest, no assessment is carried out. And this calls into question the very meaning of archaeology. Without preventive archaeology, there are no excavations and therefore no major discoveries. Putting economic interests before the interests of heritage is scandalous!

Online petition on change.org “Save the archaeological heritage”