Hello, my name is Ryan and I am currently a graduate student at the University of Southampton studying maritime archaeology. This semester I was able to start volunteering with Wessex Archaeology as a part of the ‘professional placement’ course offered at the university. My placement is primarily based within the marine sector but I have also been able to be exposed to the wide array of services that are available and which operate within Wessex Archaeology’s Salisbury office. I have experience as a professional archaeologist working back home in the US so it has been very cool to be able to come and see what it is like to work over here in the UK.
In just the short amount of time since I’ve started my placement I have already been able to work with both maritime archaeologists and marine geophysicists, take trips out to see some of the regional offices and sites currently being worked on, and visit the Littlehampton museum where Wessex Archaeology had its own exhibition of artefacts on display, reported through the Fishing Industry Protocol for Archaeological Discoveries (FIPAD).
Just recently I have been able to start my university project here at Wessex, which will be to complete a geoarchaeological assessment of vibrocores from the North Sea. Although my review will be academic as opposed to commercial, I am really excited about this because I will be using the actual vibrocores that Wessex are currently working on for one of their own clients. This is an amazing opportunity for me to gain some practical skills in a subject that I am extremely interested in. This project will also be hugely beneficial to my studies at university as my dissertation will be heavily focused on submerged palaeolandscapes in some capacity.
I’ve really enjoyed my time here at Wessex. It has been a steep learning curve but has also definitely been a great experience both personally and professionally. I am really excited to dive further into the project I’ve been given and am looking forward to what the future holds for the remainder of my time here.
By Ryan Killion