Career in Ruins

In this episode of Career in Ruins, Derek and Lawrence finally sit down—successfully!—with Dr. Robin Rönnlund, classical archaeologist at the University of Gothenburg and the Swedish Institute at Athens. After two failed recording attempts (one lost to rooftop wine, the other to a rustling coat), Robin joins us from the field in Greece to talk about excavations at ancient Vlochos, the challenges of running international projects, and what it takes to build strong connections with local communities. We dive into Robin’s archaeological journey, from being inspired by Jacques Cousteau on VHS to becoming a specialist in ancient urbanism, and explore the realities of funding, teamwork, and early-career research in Greece. Plus: Viking runes on a marble lion in Venice, thoughts on prehistoric parenting, and why missed deadlines can sometimes change your life for the better. Follow the Project: 📖 Publications (Open Access): https://ecsi.se/?s=vlochos 📺 Time Team episodes: https://youtu.be/ZCND8EhTZLA?si=JSCTFzZX-PlujsUx 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a comment, and send in your questions or corrections—we love hearing from you!

In this episode of Career in Ruins, Lawrence and Derek kick things off with some lighthearted chatter about the buzz surrounding Gladiator 2—what might Ridley Scott have in store for fans of ancient drama and epic storytelling? Then, we’re joined by the incredible Professor Henry Chapman, a landscape archaeologist whose expertise spans GIS, ancient landscapes, and the unique environments of bogs. Together, we explore: How GIS has revolutionized our understanding of historic landscapes. The hidden stories bogs can tell about past human activity and climate change. Henry's career journey and his thoughts on the importance of interdisciplinary research in archaeology. and, of course, Time Team Whether you’re into swords and sandals or peat and bog bodies, this episode offers something for everyone. Tune in for an inspiring dive into the intersection of cutting-edge technology and timeless landscapes!

In this episode Derek and Lawrence chat to Helen Geake, an archaeologist and member of the television show Time Team. She discusses her career in archaeology, starting from when she was unsure about what she wanted to do and eventually discovering her passion for the subject. She talks about her academic journey, including her research on Anglo-Saxon cemeteries, and her work at Norwich Castle Museum and the Portable Antiquities Scheme. The trio also reflect on the role of luck in her career and the importance of being open-minded and saying yes to opportunities.

This week Lawrence and Derek talk about their adventures in the countryside and Lawrence’s long history of heritage crime. Their guest this week is curatorial legend and Twitter master Rob Symmons. Rob is the curator of Fishbourne Roman palace: the largest Roman building north of the alps! The trio discuss Rob’s career in ruins, from the early seeds of his interest in archaeology to the moment Tony Robinson took a stroll in Fishbourne’s hypocaust.

Welcome back to the first episode of this new season of Career in Ruins. It’s been six months since we last did a pod and my word have we been busy. This week our hosts, Derek and Lawrence, catch up on what they have been up to, address some of the amazing archaeology that has been on the telly box of late and interview the fantastic Dr Cat Jarman. Cat is bioarchaeologist and archaeologist specializing in using forensic techniques to understand past peoples. Her research involves vikings, diet, and mobility. Her book 'River Kings' was one of the Times' best history books of 2021. Cat can also be seen hosting the BBC's Digging for Britain and Ancient Secrets of Althorp on Channel 4. Theme tune by Charles Harrison based on the tune created by Guy Dowsett (series sound engineer). Logo created by Ed Hudspeth.

This week we are joined by Dr Sadie Watson, UKRI Future Leaders Fellow at MOLA. Sadie discusses her archaeolgoical background, her fellowship in ‘Measuring, maximising and transforming public benefit from UK Government infrastructure investment in archaeology' and her work on the amazing Bloomberg excavation . Derek, Lawrence and Sadie also discuss podcasts, the future of archaeology in the UK and metal detecting reality TV. Hosted by Lawrence Shaw and Derek Pitman Artwork by Ed Hudspeth Sound production and theme tune by Guy Dowsett (Bucketofsound.com)

It’s the big Career in Ruins birthday bonanza! Continuing in lock-down, this week’s episode features a host of special guests including sometimes co-host Harry Manley, star of Channel 4’s Great British Dig and ArchaeoDuck, Dr Chloë Duckworth, Chris Jones, Historic Environment Officer for Northumberland National Park, Time Team’s Professor Carenza Lewis and Bournemouth University’s Miles Russell and Professor Mark Gillings. Hosted by Lawrence Shaw and Derek Pitman Artwork by Ed Hudspeth Sound production and theme tune by Guy Dowsett (Bucketofsound.com