Sakshi Surana wins CBA Early Career Archaeologist award

At a glitzy award ceremony in York on the 24th November the winners of the Archaeological Achievement Awards were announced. These awards, formerly the British Archaeology Awards, are organised by the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) and showcase the best of archaeology in the UK and Ireland. We are delighted that one of the recipients was UCL Institute of Archaeology alumna and Archaeology South-East field archaeologist Sakshi Surana, winner of the Early Career Archaeologist award!

The Early Career Archaeologist Award, sponsored by the Royal Archaeological Institute, aims to “highlight the contribution of an early career archaeologist. This could include contributions to archaeological work or research, dissemination, or a wider contribution to the workplace or a project”. The CBA panel commented that Sakshi is an “exceptional early career archaeologist who is demonstrating a tangible passion for archaeology through a commitment to her own professional development and the advancement of the discipline. Her enthusiasm has been energising for the entire panel!”

Hearing such praise for Sakshi will come as no surprise to those who had the opportunity to meet and work with her during her time at the Institute. Sakshi completed the BA Archaeology with a Placement Year degree programme this summer, which included a year working at Archaeology South-East. Throughout her studies she played an active role in the IoA community, contributing to the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee and outreach in schools leading on the Schools Working Party. Upon graduating she was honoured with two departmental prizes – the Norah Moloney Prize for Fieldwork, unsurprising considering how she excelled during her placement with ASE, and the Hellyar Prize for outstanding contributions to the life and work of the IoA. Sakshi also maintains an active role in the wider archaeological community as a committee member for the CIfA Early Careers Special Interest Group. After completing her studies and entering the world of archaeology as a graduate, we are delighted to welcome Sakshi back to our ASE field team and hear more about what this award means to her.

How does it feel to have won this award?

To be recognised just as a nominee, let alone having won the award, feels extremely rewarding and wonderful.

What has made your archaeological journey a success?

I think it’s an amalgamation of things. It has had a lot to do with the choices I made. For instance, the degree programme I chose at UCL with the placement at ASE meant I had many opportunities available to me. I was able to gain professional experience directly in the field in various specialisms; networking opportunities; attend conferences; student membership to CIfA; and also the opportunity to be able to interact with a large student and staff body of various backgrounds. Beyond this, I actively cho(o)se to get involved in committees, spend my personal time volunteering for various things (in and outside of archaeology) and keep pushing myself to explore more things, views, and ways archaeology can be in the current world. Another thing that has definitely helped has been the trust and support that a lot of tutors, mentors, colleagues and friends have given me; it’s given me the confidence to keep pursuing things. The reality is that while all of these things are at many times overly time consuming and taxing, they have also led to this.

What advice would you give to other early career archaeologists?

I think the main advice I would give is to ask a lot of questions/ question things. Also to not fall into the traps of things like toxic positivity and that struggling is necessary. There is no set way, circumstances differ, intersectionality matters and priorities are different. The best advice would be to just network, work as hard as you can, and try different things.

Congratulations again to Sakshi for this incredible achievement!

UCL’s CIfA-accredited BA in Archaeology with a Placement Year programme offers students all the flexibility of the BA in Archaeology programme combined with the opportunity to work as a part of a professional team at Archaeology South-East to excavate, survey, study, manage and conserve historic sites and finds. Students like Sakshi get to learn what it’s like to work full-time in the archaeology industry, gain practical skills (including vital excavation experience), and make industry connections. For more information check out the BA Archaeology with Placement Year degree page, or view more content from our placement students over on the Placement Student Hub.