The Faculty of Archaeology at Universiteit Leiden was established in its present form in 1997, but the formal study of archaeology in Leiden goes back much further, to 1818. At present, the Faculty receives more than 50% of the nation-wide first year archaeology students. With 30 full- and part-time staff, 400 undergraduate and graduate students, and c. 30 PhD candidates, it is the largest institution of its kind in the Netherlands.
Apart from the traditionally strongly developed fields of Prehistory of Northwestern Europe and Classical Archaeology, Leiden offers (as the only university in the Netherlands) specialisation in the Palaeolithic, and in the archaeology of the civilizations of the Near East, Asia, and Ancient America (Mesoamerica and Caribbean), as well as in Archaeological Sciences. A new program for International Archaeological Heritage Management Studies has been established to provide a focus for research into the heritage management aspects of existing research tracks. As such, it brings its considerable research and teaching experience to the conception of the ACE project, and notably its academic expertise in the study of archaeological heritage management in the modern world.

The Faculty of Archaeology at Leiden University has a conceptual and practical input in the realisation of all four main themes of the ACE project, but its major concern lies with theme II ‘Comparative practices in archaeology'. One area of specific interest herein are the legal, administrative and financial frameworks of archaeology and heritage management in different European countries (on the basis of the Malta convention and other international agreements), and their implications for employment, quality management, protection and study of the archaeological resources within Europe.

Another area of particular interest concerns the implications of European archaeological policies and practice on local communities in the developing world. As team leader for sub-theme II. D European Archaeology Abroad, the Faculty explores the ethical considerations and imperatives within current scientific, legal and financial contexts in different European countries, and how these impact and relate to local circumstances in post-colonial contexts. How do current professional standards relate to ethical concerns in dealing with the legacy of specific European colonial archaeologies? How do European objectives and guidelines relate to the needs of local communities for sustainable human development? Can Europe have a sustainable and ethical framework for undertaking archaeological work in the developing world, and what would it look like?

The Faculty of Archaeology will organise and host an ACE plenary meeting, scheduled for September 2010 in Leiden, to analyse and discuss the above mentioned issues.