Leicester receives two nominations for 2018 Current Archaeology Awards
Two projects led by archaeologists from our University have been nominated in the Current Archaeology Awards for 2018.
An archaeological excavation led by Dr Gavin Speed from the University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) and a research project by Professor Colin Haselgrove from the School of Archaeology and Ancient History have been recognised for this year’s Current Archaeology Awards.
Nominated for Rescue Project of the Year is the Stibbe project, the largest excavation undertaken in Leicester for over a decade by archaeologists from University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS), which shed new light on the city of Leicester’s early Roman history.
Dr Gavin Speed, Project Officer at ULAS said: “We were keen to share this remarkable discovery with as many people as possible, and made the decision to open the site to the public – something that our client was very receptive to, even constructing a special elevated platform to provide a good vantage point from which to look out over the site. Leicester’s citizens responded with great enthusiasm; over 5000 people visited our open weekends and lunchtime tours, as did more than 500 local schoolchildren”.
Nominated for Research Project of the Year is the Stanwick project by Professor Colin Haselgrove from the University of Leicester’s School of Archaeology and Ancient History.
Professor Haselgrove’s recent book Cartimandua’s Capital? The late Iron Age royal site at Stanwick, North Yorkshire, fieldwork and analysis examines the fortified complex at Stanwick – one of the largest later prehistoric fortified sites in Europe.
The publication is the outcome of a 30-year research programme into Stanwick and its environs. Analysis of the material evidence from the site, combined with a new radiocarbon-based chronology, suggests that the Stanwick fortifications were not built as a focus of resistance against Rome after the invasion of AD43, as long thought, but the site instead had earlier origins, and was most likely a Brigantian stronghold allied with Rome.
Professor Haselgrove said: “Publishing any excavation is always a team effort and I would like to use this opportunity to thank everyone who contributed to the work and waited patiently for the results to appear. I am really pleased that the book has attracted so much interest. Stanwick is a quite remarkable site and I have no doubt that this is not the end of the story, as many other intriguing questions remain to be explored.”
Voting for the awards is open until 5 February 2018: www.archaeology.co.uk/vote