The Archaeology Committee of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies invites nominations for the annual Britannia Award, a recognition of outstanding voluntary contributions to Roman archaeology in Britain. The award was launched in 2023 for individual nominees, but from 2024, we will also make an award to voluntary archaeological groups. You can read about previous nominations here.

The successful individual nominee and a representative from the successful nominated group 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 names of the winners 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 a person or group of people who are not employed as archaeologists, or who were 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 are welcomed 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 and/or nominated group, their value to Roman archaeology in Britain and clarifying their eligibility. Self-nomination is not permitted. For the group award, nominators must be external to the group being nominated. All nominations should include the full name and contact details of the nominee and/or a representative of the nominated group. 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 annually thereafter). 

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

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