Bradford Archaeologist Honoured with MBE

Professor Vince Gaffney, Anniversary Chair in Landscape Archaeology at the University of Bradford, has been honoured with the award of the MBE in the Queen’s 2018 Birthday Honours List.   The award is for services to archaeology.  Our congratulations to the professor.

Bradford University Professor Awarded MBE

Professor Gaffney is a world-renowned expert in archaeological landscape studies who, over the last four decades, has engaged with young and old, passionately presenting his subject matter as an exciting and thought-provoking study of people and their environments in the present and the past.  He continues to attract tremendous international media interest and to inspire the next generation of aspiring archaeologists.

Honoured with the Award of an MBE – Professor Vince Gaffney (Bradford University)

Professor Vincent Gaffney.
Professor Vincent Gaffney (Bradford University).

Picture credit: University of Bradford

Vince has been the recipient of numerous national and international awards.  In 2017, his work in the Stonehenge landscape was awarded the “Research Project of the Year “ and he was recently shortlisted for Archaeologist of the Year by the journal “Current Archaeology”.  Five years ago, he received the European Archaeological Heritage Prize and his work also received the prestigious Queen’s Award for Higher Education, for use of novel technology within the Wroxeter Hinterland Project, providing the first comprehensive geophysical survey of a major Roman town in Britain.

A Pioneer of New Research Techniques

Professor Gaffney has pioneered the application of computing in archaeology.  His work on the Croatian Adriatic Islands provided the first substantial use of geographical information systems (GIS) in Europe.  More recently, he has led the UK team creating three-dimensional and virtual imaging of the “Stonehenge Hidden Landscapes”, from an extensive programme of geophysical surveys of the largely unmapped landscape and which will change our understanding of Stonehenge and shape history as well as inform student teaching and learning.

His work on archaeological landscapes lost to the sea after the last glaciation received the 2007 award for Heritage Presentation at the British Association for the Advancement of Science.  This research was also selected by Research Councils UK as one of top hundred ground-breaking UK research projects as part of its “Big Ideas for the Future” publication.

In 2010, Professor Gaffney’s book on this subject, “Europe’s Lost World”, was awarded the “Best Publication” prize at the British Archaeological Awards.   Professor Gaffney and his colleagues were also invited to exhibit their work on underwater landscapes in the Royal Society’s Summer Science Exhibition.

Surveying the Extensive Palaeolandscapes of the North and Irish Seas

The extent of the palaeolandscape prior to sea level changes.
Approximate maximum extent of marine palaeolandscapes off the Irish and British coasts (survey areas in red).

Picture credit: University of Bradford

Recently, Everything Dinosaur has featured the research into the hidden landscapes of the southern North Sea basin.  This study funded by a European Research Council grant, represents one of the largest, continuous areas to be mapped using geophysical data ever attempted.  The aim of this extensive project is to document evidence of human settlement in these hinterlands, prior to the flooding of this part of Europe.

To read more about this research: In Search of a Prehistoric Landscape Under the Sea.

Commenting upon this accolade, professor Gaffney modestly stated:

“It is both a surprise, and a great pleasure, to learn that I have been selected to receive an MBE for services to Archaeology.  When receiving such an honour within Higher Education it is, of course, completely appropriate to recognise that an individual’s career is actually a result of the labours of numerous students, researchers and the many colleagues one works with over the years and I would like to think that I am accepting this honour for them all.  It is also important to note the value of such awards to universities and their communities.”

Professor Gaffney added:

“Archaeology may be associated with Stonehenge and many glamorous monuments but to us, the archaeology of Bradford Park Avenue is equally important and our work there and elsewhere in Bradford and Yorkshire, links the University and the town and is the basis for future, globally important research.”

Visit the Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.