This chapter outlines the importance of the archaeology of Lundy and traces the history of archaeological study on the island. Beginning with the early antiquarian interest shown by Westcote (1620), Grose (1776) and Chanter (1877), who remarked on the existence there of ruined buildings and abandoned field systems, it leads the reader through the discoveries of the Heaven's ownership and into the twentieth century explorations by Bristowe, Dollar and Lethbridge. During the 1960s and '70s, substantial advances were made by the Lundy Field Society in understanding the island's archaeological remains.
In this, the lead was taken by Keith Gardner, and the chapter traces his extensive work in this field, showing how this work led to the protection through scheduling of a number of Lundy's sites. The National Trust's detailed survey of the historic landscape has followed in recent years, leading to greater recognition of the significance of the archaeological survival and a considerable increase in the English Heritage scheduling provision. Running alongside this has been the research by Schofield and Webster using the modem techniques of geophysics. A new direction has also been provided by Heath, Robertson and Heyes who have pursued the study of underwater wrecks around Lundy, using archaeological techniques.