Mike Bishop

You know my method. It is founded upon the observance of trifles

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An Archaeologist?

To be completely honest, I was trained as an Ancient Historian, rather than an archaeologist, but as so often happens in life, circumstances seem to have dictated the outcome. Although my main interest is in the Roman period, I have dug holes in things ranging from the late Neolithic/early Bronze Age, through the Roman and medieval periods, to post-medieval ploughing (the last being a polite way of saying that sometimes I don't find anything of significance!).

As a beginner, I dug on a range of sites in Britain, including the Roman fortresses at Usk and Caerleon (Gwent). I have been involved in field survey in Jordan and environmental sampling in the Inner Hebrides (Colonsay). I also learned how to be an archaeological illustrator... twice (I know, it seems greedy).

In more recent years, I have directed excavations on the Roman fort at Chester-le-Street (Co. Durham), on the extramural settlement of the newly-discovered Flavian-period fort at Roecliffe (North Yorkshire), on two different late Iron Age/early Roman rural settlements at Melton (East Riding of Yorkshire) and one just outside Adwick-le-Street (South Yorkshire), on a late Roman rural site near Garforth (West Yorkshire: full points for all the Yorkshires!), and on the civil settlement outside the Roman fort at Inveresk, near Edinburgh. I have also led tours of the monuments of Syria and of sites connected with the Roman army in Britain, the Roman army in Scotland, and a walk along Hadrian's Wall (the last three for Andante Travels, who also do trips to Jordan and Syria); more are planned, including a visit to the Saxon Shore forts in 2008.

So much for the stuff that earns the crusts. But if you want to know what really interests me, why not take a look at part of the Roman site at Corbridge?

www.flickr.com

There have allegedly been visitors here... anybody got a torch? They must be here somewhere...

Any comments to mcbishop@pobox.com

(beware the ravenous spam-eating defences)

This page was almost updated on July 17th 2007