Hi folks, I’m Bob, and I recently joined the Coastal & Marine team as a Project Officer at the Edinburgh office. I have previously worked with Wessex Archaeology as an archaeological diver a few times including on two seasons of Project SAMPHIRE, and for surveys of the Drumbeg wreck and a slate mine on Belnahua.
My career in archaeology started with my Master’s degree in maritime archaeology from the University of Southampton where I specialised for my thesis on the Iron Age and early medieval periods in western Scotland. I am also currently undertaking a PhD there (nearly finished!) investigating the implementation of the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.
A few weeks ago, along with other diving members of the Edinburgh Coastal & Marine team, I travelled down to Bristol to undertake a day of dive familiarisation at Vobster Quay. Despite a delayed flight and some car troubles we got there in the end. It was great to meet some of the Salisbury team for the first time, as well as catch up with some I hadn’t seen for a while. The day was run very efficiently, and I managed to complete two dives, so it was a great way to reacquaint myself with Wessex’s working practices and equipment.
I’m now looking forward to the upcoming fieldwork season, and especially to working on the contract for underwater archaeology services from Historic Environment Scotland.