Education

Ph.D. ‘Changing Beliefs: The Archaeology of the East Anglian Conversion’.

October 2002 – July 2007, School of History, University of East Anglia

My doctoral research examined the historical and archaeological evidence for the coming of Christianity to Anglo-Saxon East Anglia. In particular, it considered the mechanisms by which the new religion may have spread and assesses the speed and scale of its adoption. Ultimately, I argue, the archaeological evidence demonstrates that, far from being the preserve of the upper classes, the adoption of Christianity throughout the East Anglian kingdom was rapid, widespread and popular.

A book based on my thesis was published by Boydell and Brewer in November 2010.

My research was supervised by Professor Tom Williamson and Professor Stephen Church and funded by a grant from the School of History, UEA. My thesis was examined by Professor Carole Rawcliffe and the late Professor Mick Aston.

Digital copies of my thesis can be downloaded by clicking here, and is also available to download from the UEA Digital Repository and the British Library's Electronic Theses Online Service. Hard copies of my thesis are held by the UEA Library and by the British Library. My research made extensive use of digital mapping data provided by the Edina Digimap service and is summarised on the Digimap website.

M.A. Landscape Archaeology (Commendation)

October 2000 – September 2001, Department of Archaeology, University of Bristol

My postgraduate studies encompassed a wide range of theoretical and practical approaches to landscape archaeology and comprised lectures, practical sessions and a surveying field school.

The course required the completion of several short projects on a variety of subjects and a dissertation, in which I examined the Anglo-Saxon origins of the village of Sedgeford in north-west Norfolk. A copy of my dissertation can be downloaded by clicking here.

B.A. (Hons) Archaeology (2:1)

September 1997 – June 2000, Department of Archaeology, University of Bristol

My undergraduate degree provided a thorough grounding in archaeological theory, methods and practice, complemented by a wide range of fieldwork experience in Britain and abroad. Having studied the prehistoric, Roman and medieval periods, during my third year I specialised in ecclesiastical and monastic archaeology and the study of human remains.

My third year dissertation considered the application of stratigraphic recording methods to standing buildings. A copy of my dissertation can be downloaded by clicking here.