Mike Corbishley (1943-2025)

Mike Corbishley died on 3 October 2025 at the age of 81. 

Tim Williams (UCL Institute of Archaeology) and friends provide their memories of Mike: 

Mike was amongst the most influential British archaeologists of the last 60 years. He pioneered the teaching of archaeology in schools and to young people, inspiring in many a lifelong passion for the subject.

Following a degree in Classics from Bangor University, Mike took up a teaching position at Colchester Grammar School in 1966 where he rapidly developed an archaeology programme. The school then became only one of two in the UK offering an A-Level in Archaeology from the early 1970s onwards.

Mike was a founding member of the Council for British Archaeology’s (CBA) Young Archaeologists Club in 1972 and continued to work with them until his last few years. He was also a highly accomplished excavator and a key member of the Wroxeter Roman City excavations, directed by the late Philip Barker, from 1966 until 1990.  

In 1977 Mike became the first Education Officer at the Council for British Archaeology, where he broadened educational engagement from secondary to primary schools, creating new curricula that ensured that archaeology contributed to a vast range of subjects.

Mike moved to English Heritage as Head of Education in 1988, and later Head of Education and Interpretation, where he stayed until 2003. Here he pioneered the production of educational programmes, with literature, videos and site specific material; he also secured funding for education officers and facilities on active excavations, supporting school visits and broader public engagement. 

At the UCL Institute of Archaeology, where Mike was an Honorary Associate Professor from 2003 onwards, he taught a very popular Masters course in Archaeology and Education. Hundreds of students benefited from his enthusiasm, knowledge and dry wit. Many archaeological education programmes around the world developed from Mike’s teaching and he continued to promote archaeological education at every level, in Britain and abroad, including projects in Greece and at Merv, Turkmenistan.

Mike will be remembered as a true founder of archaeological education in schools.  He was one of the brightest, most determined, entertaining and dedicated archaeological educators, teachers and influencers of our time and will be very sadly missed.

Our thoughts are with Mike’s family and friends at this difficult time.