Abstract
Although the future is mentioned frequently in overarching aims and visions,
and it is a major drive in the daily work of archaeological heritage managers
and indeed heritage professionals more generally, it remains unclear precisely
how an overall commitment to the future can best inform specific heritage
practices. It seems that most archaeologists and other heritage professionals
cannot easily express how they conceive of the future they work for, and how
their work will impact on that future. The future tends to remain implicit in
daily practice which operates in a continuing, rolling present. The authors
argue that this needs to change because present-day heritage management
may be much less beneficial for the future than we commonly expect.