West Yorkshire Archaeology Service (WYAS) was formed in 1986 when the County of West Yorkshire was reorganised into the five unitary authorities of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield. It now operates within the administrative structure of the West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee. WYAS has grown to be one of the largest archaeological practices in the country, employing approximately thirty five permanent and contract personnel including field archaeologists, surveyors, planning consultants, specialists in geophysics, historic buildings, industrial archaeology, environmental archaeology and artefacts, and a team of illustrators, designers, computing personnel and a full-time photographer.

Terms of Reference

Since 1986 the WYAS terms of reference have been:

• To provide an efficient and effective archaeology service on all matters concerning the preservation, protection, promotion, recording and interpretation of the historic environment of the towns and countryside of West Yorkshire.
• To discharge the statutory obligations of the constituent Councils and Joint Committee in respect of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 and the enactments relevant to archaeology and the historic environment.
• To promote the heritage in terms of leisure and tourism, economic regeneration and job opportunities, and safeguard the future of archaeological sites through proper management and planning provision.
• To advise and assist in the formulation of planning policies and implement strategic and local policies for the historic environment.
• To promote the adoption of positive planning development control responsibilities and the provision of proper archaeological evaluation, investigation and recording of those sites and buildings under threat.
• To research, compile, enhance and maintain a Sites and Monuments Record.
• To carry out archaeological surveys, excavations, conservation and site interpretation and display.
• To develop the expanding educational and community potential of historic landscapes and towns, and publish and exhibit the results of work.
• To undertake any other related activity that is deemed to benefit the archaeology in the area covered by the Joint Services Committee.

Until 1998, WYAS operated as a single entity, but it has now been split into two distinct sections:

WYAS Advisory Service

Funded by West Yorkshire's five Metropolitan District authorities to maintain a central comprehensive record of West Yorkshire's archaeology, to provide District planning and other departments with advice and assistance on archaeological matters, and to promote the conservation of West Yorkshire's archaeological resource and its use and enjoyment by the public, particularly with reference to schools.

Archaeological Services WYAS

A self-funding unit offering a wide range of technical expertise in the areas of archaeological consultancy, survey and excavation, historic building survey and recording, heritage design, display and publication to local authorities, central government agencies, other national bodies and the private sector.

The West Yorkshire Archaeology Service logo of a circle and rosette knot is taken from the west face of the base of the 10th-century Walton Cross