Meet the Team
Professor Chris Gerrard
Department of Archaeology, Durham University
After completing his PhD in Archaeology at the University of Bristol, Chris joined the newly-formed Cotswold Archaeological Trust (now Cotswold Archaeology) in Cirencester in 1989, going on to become the Senior Archaeological Consultant at Countryside Planning and Management. He left commercial archaeology in 1992 to take up a post as lecturer at the University of Winchester (then King Alfred's College), joining the Archaeology department in Durham in 2000. Chris has conducted fieldwork projects in many parts of Britain, including at Shapwick in an intensive landscape project he directed with the late Mick Aston (and for which he won the Best Archaeological Book of the Year award 2014), and at Clarendon (Wiltshire) where he worked on the medieval and later royal palace and park. Chris has also conducted fieldwork in Spain, notably at Bulbuente Abbot’s Palace in 2013-14. Throughout these projects, he has worked closely with undergraduate and postgraduate students and local communities and volunteers. Chris brings his wealth of knowledge and experience of later medieval elite buildings and landscapes to this project and looks forward to being on site and learning more about Auckland Castle.
Dr Pam Graves
Department of Archaeology, Durham University
Before coming to Durham as a Lecturer in Medieval Archaeology, Pam worked in Urban Archaeological Units in York (YAT), Lincoln (CLAU) and Newcastle, on subjects ranging from medieval religious houses in their landscape settings, to artefact research. Her specialisations are urban archaeology and the development of a mercantile culture in Northern Europe, religious practice and architecture in both the medieval and post-medieval periods; medieval window glass; and archaeological theory, especially the analysis of ritual. Pam’s expertise on religious medieval archaeology and material culture were invaluable throughout the 2018 excavations at Auckland Castle, and she offered on-site training to undergraduate students in drawing, recording and dating the finds recovered on site. Her ongoing work examining the glass recovered from the 2018 excavations has assisted understandings of the date and development of the site.
John Castling
The Auckland Project
John began working as an archaeologist in 2007, and following several stints in the commercial archaeology sector and an undergraduate and MA degree in archaeology at Durham University, now works for the Auckland Project as the Archaeology and Social History Curator (as well as doing a part-time PhD – also at Durham). Auckland is the second castle he’s dug at, having worked at Bamburgh Castle for four seasons of excavations there. John particularly works to connect the DUACE work to the Auckland Project’s, and is also involved in organising the 2018-19 Binchester dig. He’s passionate about community archaeology, and loves telling visitors to the site about what archaeological discoveries we’re making – so if you’re able to come and visit, he’d be only too happy to say hello and show you around!
​
Photo credit: Jamie Sproates, courtesy of The Auckland Project.
Jamie Armstrong
Archaeological Services, Durham University
After graduating from Durham in 2000 Jamie spent two years working in commercial archaeology before returning to Durham in 2002 to complete an MA in Archaeology. He has been working for Archaeological Services since 2004, progressing from a site assistant to my current position as a Senior Archaeologist. In that time he has conducted numerous fieldwork projects, the most significant being writing up excavations of a Roman Villa at Quarry Farm in 2003 and directing excavations of the medieval kitchen at Durham Cathedral in 2014. He was also responsible for the excavation of the Roman vicus at Binchester in 2009-15, where he was involved with training students and volunteers in the techniques of archaeological fieldwork and recording. His involvement with Auckland Castle began in 2014 with an archaeological evaluation of the Walled Garden. In 2016 Jamie was responsible for excavations in advance of the construction of the Energy Centre, and in December of the same year I began excavations on the site of the New Wing. At the conclusion of that excavation in 2017 he continued working at the castle, recording further archaeological discoveries during the course of the refurbishment of the castle that have helped shape our understanding of the site. Jamie's involvement with the project has been a rare opportunity to work at a medieval castle and episcopal palace, and he looks forward to making many more discoveries.
Dr Paolo Forlin
Department of Archaeology, Durham University
.
Caroline Smith
Department of History and Archaeology, Durham University
After completing her undergraduate degree in Archaeology at Durham University in 2014, Caroline subsequently completed an MA by Research in Archaeology exploring the medieval residences of the Bishops of Durham. She has built on this work in her PhD which explores the development of episcopal residences during the reformation, civil war and commonwealth periods across four historic dioceses in England and Wales. As a result, Caroline is passionate about the excavations at Auckland Castle and eagerly awaits all the exciting discoveries. On site, Caroline is responsible for blog (hello!) and alongside excavating, will be helping with tours and the public presentation of the site. Feel free to come and say hi!