Staff profile
Martha Stewart
Research Student
| Affiliation |
|---|
| Research Student in the Department of Archaeology |
Biography
Abstract
My current research focuses on the work of C20th Roman historian and archaeologist Eric Birley. His career 1920s-70s saw archaeology in the UK shift from being primarily the domain of highly-skilled 'amateurs', becoming a university discipline based in the laboratory as much as the library. Besides this 'professionalisation' of archaeology, the significance of geography in the production and distribution of knowledge is a key area of interest, as is the potential impact of poor mental health on an academic career, at a time when this was a subject of shame and silence.
Education
MA Roman Archaeology, with Distinction, University of Durham 2016
M St Roman History, Christ Church, Oxford 1997
BA Classics Mods; Final Honours School Ancient & Modern History, Christ Church, Oxford 1995
Research Topic
The contribution of Professor Eric Birley (1906-95) to Roman frontier studies
Conference Papers
2016: ‘Victorians on the Edge: An early excavation in context,’ Edge of Empire Conference, University of Durham, 2 September.
Seminars
2019: 'Amateurs, Professionals, and everything in-between: Excavating Hadrian's Wall in the inter-war years,' Postgraduate Research Seminar, University of Durham, Epiphany term.
2017: ‘Margerie Venables Taylor, an unsung heroine of Romano-British Archaeology,’ Postgraduate Research Seminar, University of Durham, Easter term.
2016: ‘The Emperor’s New Pots: A late Victorian image of Roman Britain,’ Postgraduate Research Seminar, University of Durham, 20 May.
Public Outreach
2019: 'Amateurs, Professionals, and everything in-between: Excavating Hadrian's Wall in the inter-war years,' Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, November
2019: Poster presentation on 'The Centenary Pilgrimage 1949 & International archaeological fellowship after WW2,' 14th Hadrian's Wall Pilgrimage, Vindolanda, 24 July
2016: ‘Robert Blair’s scrapbook and the 1875 excavation at South Shields,’ Hadrian’s Wall Community Networking Day, Hexham, 26 November.
Conference Organisation
2017: Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference organising committee
2016: Hadrian’s Wall: 40 years of frontier research, Durham, 2-4 September, student helper.
Publications
- Stewart, M.L. (2019) Margerie Venables Taylor (1881-1963): An Unsung Heroine of Roman Britain? In Moshenska, G. & Lewis, C. (eds.): Life Writing in the History of Archaeology. London, UCL Press (forthcoming).
- Hingley, R. & Stewart, M.L. (2019) Review of 'Alan Sorrell: The Man Who Created Roman Britain' by Julia Sorrell and Mark Sorrell, Journal of Roman Archaeology VOL? pp?.
Other
2019: Filmed interview of Professor Rosemary Cramp, commissioned by Durham University Department of Archaeology as part of her 90th Birthday celebrations.