About
I have a PhD in Classical Studies from the Open University and over ten years professional experience in the museum sector. I specialise in the identification and interpretation of Roman material culture and Roman Yorkshire, as well as researching ancient magic, ritual, and religion. My PhD thesis was titled The Materiality of Magic in Roman Britain and aimed to investigate the archaeological evidence for magic in the Roman Britain. I am an Associate Collections Curator at York Museums Trust. I have authored two books on Roman archaeology, edited two collections papers, and contributed book chapters and articles to peer reviewed journals. I have additional research interests in amulets and folklore, Whitby jet, materiality and sensory archaeology. Education
BA(hons) Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Leicester (2009)
MA Rome & Its Neighbours, University of Leicester (2010)
PhD Classical Studies, Open University (2022) Mastodon Feed
Pleased to finally find a leaf mine! Agromyzidae are a family of tiny flies whose larva make these sorts of fun mins in leaf tissues. My sense is that they've had a late start this year generally – probably another thing smacked hard by the insane heat of 2022. #flies #diptera #WildlifeRecording (2023-06-02 ↗)
Found some rather excellent inverts today at #FarIngsNNR – Xysticus spm predating a blue-tailed Damsel female, a bonny metallic leader beetle Donacia clavipes, and although apparently common but something I dont often see (and amazingly named) Golden-bloomed grey longhorn beetle. (2023-05-25 ↗)
Walking with the baby pram yesterday and a helpfully sleeping bairn let us stay nice and quiet to ID the interesting hopping birds in the bushes. Siskin and Goldcrest added to my patch list for the year. 53spp and way ahead of this time last year. Almost all #lowcarbonbirding too. #birdwatching #localbigyear (2023-02-25 ↗)
Journalist: "Hey we are writing an article about [insert Roman Magic sensationalist nonsense here] and invite you to comment" Me: "Sure, please compensate me for my time though" J: "We don't pay interviewees" M: "OK, bye" Rinse and repeat every other month. #Notworkingforfree (2023-02-18 ↗)
Bloody loved my #lowcarbonbirding run around #FarIngsNNR. 6 miles, 26 species and adding grey heron, bullfinch, greenfinch, little grebe, and wigeon to my year list for 45sp. (2023-01-22 ↗)
Publications
2015. “The Fist-and-Phallus Pendant from Roman Catterick”, Britannia 46. 135-149.
2016. With Ross, C. “A New Phallic Carving from Roman Catterick”, Britannia 47. 271-279.
2016. “Staring at Death: The Jet Gorgoneia of Roman Britain”, in Hoss, S. and Whitmore, A. (eds.) Small Finds and Ancient Social Practices in the Northwest Provinces of the Roman Empire. Oxford, Oxbow. 98-116.
2017. “Protecting the Troops? Phallic Carvings in the North of Roman Britain”, in Parker, A. (ed) Ad Vallum: Papers in Celebration of Dr. Brian Dobson (BAR British Series 631). Oxford, British Archaeological Reports. 117-130.
2018. “The Bells! The Bells! Approaching Tintinnabula in Roman Britain and Beyond”, in Parker, A. and McKie, S. (eds) Material Approaches to Roman Magic: Occult Objects and Supernatural Substances (TRAC Themes in Roman Archaeology 2). Oxford, Oxbow.
2018. With Walter, A. “A Medieval, Dual-sided, Jet Pendant from Poppleton, York”, Yorkshire Archaeological Journal 90(1), 213-222.
2019. With McKie, S. “Hitching a lift: Functional context and magical symbolism in a Roman linch pin from Wootton, North Lincolnshire. Britannia 50. 55-64.
2020. “His and Hers: Magic, Materiality, and Sexual Imagery”, in Collins, R. and Ivleva, T. Un-Roman Sex: Gender, Sexuality and Lovemaking in the Roman Provinces and Frontiers (Routledge Monographs in Classical Studies). 90-113.
2021. “Phalli Fighting with Fluids: Approaching images of Ejaculating phalli in the Roman world”, in Bradley, M., Leonard, V., and Totelin, L. (eds) Body Fluids in Antiquity. Routledge. 173-190. Memberships
Chartered Institute for Archaeology (Associate)
Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
