OA South, based in Oxford, operates nationwide and beyond, but has a particular focus on southern England. Since its beginnings as the Oxfordshire Archaeological Unit in 1973, OA South has offered a comprehensive range of archaeology and heritage services that combine cost-effectiveness with academic excellence.

Our work includes desk-based research and assessments, heritage and planning advice, geophysical survey, building survey, and a full range of excavation strategies, from evaluation to full excavation and watching brief investigations. We have a wide range of in-house specialists and dedicated post-excavation staff.

We have a long tradition of producing high quality reports rapidly and using the latest digital technologies. Our output ranges from academic journal articles to major publications through our Oxford Archaeology and Thames Valley Landscapes monograph series. We also produce a wide variety of publications for a non-specialist audience, including booklets and brochures. Many of our technical reports (so-called grey literature) are available for download through our digital library.

As a registered educational charity, OA South welcomes visitors to our sites on open days and tours, and works with the public on community excavations and other projects. From the start, OA South’s purpose has remained the promotion of archaeological work, carried out to the highest standards and widely disseminated, through publication, outreach and teaching, for the benefit of the public.