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UCL Institute of Archaeology Annual News Round-Up

Issue 2023

We would like to wish all our UCL Institute of Archaeology (IoA) and Archaeology South-East (ASE) friends and colleagues, past and current staff and students, Season’s Greetings and all best wishes for 2024.

This past year has marked a significant change to our IoA community. A number of our long-standing staff members - Martin Bridge, Andrew Garrard, Elizabeth Graham, Simon Hillson, Richard Macphail, Dominic Perring, James Steele, Tim Williams and Karen Wright - decided to retire. Their contributions, in their various research and teaching areas and departmental roles, over the years has been outstanding. This is not really goodbye as most will continue their association with us in Honorary or Emeritus capacities!

Louise Rayner took over as Director of ASE on Dominic's retirement, Paul Wordsworth was appointed as our new Lecturer in Silk Roads Archaeology and Heritage and Murray Andrews will take up the part-time post of Lecturer in British Archaeology (from March 2024). We will also welcome further new colleagues going forward.

Here are some IoA and ASE news stories from 2023. For full details of all our news, events and activities, please continue to visit the IoA and ASE websites and follow us on social media.

UCL Institute of Archaeology 3rd in the world

The UCL Institute of Archaeology has been ranked 3rd in the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject for 2023.

The QS World University Rankings by Subject are compiled annually to help prospective students identify the leading universities in a particular subject. The IoA's degree programmes offer an unrivalled variety of course options, both theoretical and practical, covering diverse archaeological topics, as well as wide-ranging fieldwork opportunities.

Venice Biennale Exhibition on concept of cities and urban origins

A dark brown background with a lighter concentric spatial image in the centre

David Wengrow collaborated on The Nebelivka Hypothesis, a multi-media video exhibition, which premiered at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition of the Biennale di Venezia, The Laboratory of the Future. This may be the first time that archaeology has been represented in this major forum. Read more about the Venice Biennale Exhibition»

Rendlesham reveals a 1,400 year old temple

A group of 8 people, some in high-visibility clothing, standing on an archaeological site on a sunny day with blue sky overhead

A possible pre-Christian temple from the time of the East Anglian Kings has been found at Rendlesham, near Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, by a team of archaeologists led by UCL researchers. Read more about this new discovery»

Selected awards, appointments and invitations

CBA Early Career Archaeologist Award Sakshi Surana (IoA/ASE alumna) received the Early Career Archaeologist Award at the CBA Archaeological Achievement Awards.	Linnean Society Trail-Crisp Award Lara González Carretero (IoA alumna) was awarded the Trail-Crisp Award for 2023 from the Linnean Society of London for her achievements in archaeobotany.
Albertus Magnus Professor for 2023 David Wengrow has been named 2023 Albertus Magnus Professor at the University of Cologne, one of the university's most prestigious academic honours.	American Philosophical Society Award Cristina Castillo received an award from the American Philosophical Society (APS) as part of their Franklin Research Grant programme.
National Geographic Wayfinder Award Sada Mire received a National Geographic Wayfinder Award, joining the newest cohort of National Geographic Explorers.	Nick Ryan Bursary Award (CAA) Giacomo Fontana is the recipient of this year's Nick Ryan Bursary Award from the CAA (Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology) for the best student paper presentation.
Rhind Lectures (Scotland) 2023 Elizabeth Graham was invited by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland to give this year's series of Rhind Lectures in September on the theme 'What has Maya Archaeology done for us?'	Stanford Lectures (USA) 2023 Sue Hamilton and David Wengrow were invited to give Stanford University Distinguished Lectures this year.

Selected ASE News

Giant stone artefacts found on rare Ice Age site in Kent

This year ASE researchers discovered some of the largest early prehistoric stone tools in Britain - including the third largest ever found - among 800 stone tools recovered during excavations in Kent.

The largest giant handaxe photographed from four different angles. Credit: Archaeology South-East/ UCL

Save the date - this work will be featured on Digging for Britain due to be broadcast on BBC on 10 January 2024!

ASE at The National Gallery ASE archaeologists have been excavating at the National Gallery in advance of building work to mark the Gallery’s Bicentenary.	What was Hackney like in 300,000BC? ASE archaeologists helped launch Hackney Museum's exhibition of local Ice Age archaeology, teaching schoolchildren about Ice Age Art.
IoA/ASE Placement Students 2023-24 Find out more about this year's cohort of Institute students - Claire, Galahad, Solomon and Tasnima - who have just started their placement year.	Reflections on ASE Placement 2022-23 Find out more about Iris Rosas De Oliveira, our 2022-23 placement student, as she reflects on her paid placement year with ASE.