Ian Haynes (1990)

I am Professor of Archaeology at Newcastle University and former Chair of Archaeology at the British School at Rome. My career has combined field archaeology, academic research, teaching, heritage, international collaboration and university leadership.

I began my archaeological career as an undergraduate, followed by extensive fieldwork and travel in the Middle East and Asia. I subsequently worked on major Roman excavations in London, including the Huggin Hill Baths and the Forum at Threadneedle Street, alongside roles at the Museum of London. I returned to academic study at Oxford, completing my doctorate in Roman archaeology in 1994, and then spent a year teaching at Oxford while also working as a field archaeologist for Oxford Archaeology.

In 1995 I joined Birkbeck, University of London, where I became Director of its Archaeology and History programme. In 2007 I moved to Newcastle University to take the Chair of Archaeology, subsequently serving in a number of senior academic and research leadership roles.

My research focuses principally on the archaeology of the Roman world, particularly the relationships between military and civilian communities, religion, frontiers and urban development. I have directed and co-directed archaeological projects across Europe and beyond, including work on Hadrian’s Wall and in Rome, and have led major interdisciplinary and digitally enabled research programmes. I am currently Principal Investigator of the ERC-funded Rome Transformed project.

I have particularly valued the opportunities archaeology and academia have given me to work across disciplines, countries and institutions. I hope to use my mentoring role to help students think creatively about their own careers, navigate academia and related professions, and make the most of opportunities that may not initially appear obvious.