The Archaeology Committee of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies invites nominations for the biannual Britannia Award, a recognition awarded to individuals who have made an outstanding voluntary contribution to Roman archaeology in Britain.

The successful applicant will be presented with the award at a Roman Society event in the year in which it is awarded (usually the Roman Britain day conference). The prize includes free attendance at that event and a year’s free membership of the Society. The name of the winner will be published in Epistula.

Eligibility:

The prize can only be awarded to recognize an outstanding contribution that was undertaken on a voluntary basis by someone who is not employed an archaeologist, or was not at the time. No achievement undertaken for pay of any kind can be considered. The recognition is intended for remarkable work by volunteers and avocational archaeologists and not for work undertaken as a student of archaeology or a related discipline (e.g. classics) or for those employed in the field of archaeology (such as in archaeological companies, in universities or other research institutions, museums or galleries, public or private heritage bodies or employees of archaeological charities). Nominees who subsequently (i.e. after the completion of the outstanding contribution being recognized) enrolled in a degree in a related discipline or became employed for undertaking archaeological work will not, however, be disqualified.

The award will be judged by the Society’s Roman Archaeology Committee. Services to archaeology eligible for the prize might include:

• Volunteering at archaeological sites/museums etc. (e.g. taking part in or leading fieldwork, finds work, fieldwalking or metal detecting)
• Helping to publicise archaeological discoveries (through journalism, public engagement etc.)
• Outreach work including work with schools, or other forms of public engagement like events and talks
• Carrying out research which contributes to our understanding of Roman Britain
• Digitising archaeological data
• Supporting archaeological societies or charitable trusts

Nominations:

Applications occur by nomination:  two people, one of whom must be from inside the profession (as defined above) should each write a letter of nomination of no more than 500 words, stating clearly the nature of the services rendered by the nominee, their value to Roman archaeology in Britain and clarifying their eligibility. All nominations should include the full name and contact details of the nominee. Individuals may in exceptional cases be nominated more than once in their lifetime.

Apply by email, sending the nomination letters to the Britannia Award convenor, Dr Lacey Wallace (lwallace@lincoln.ac.uk) by the deadline of 1 February (beginning in 2023 and biannually thereafter, in odd-numbered years). 

Nominators will be notified in March of the same year whether or not their nominee has been selected for the award. The awardee will be notified separately. 

Please send all enquiries to Dr Lacey Wallace (lwallace@lincoln.ac.uk).