Roberta Gilchrist
{{short description|British archaeologist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
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| name = Roberta Gilchrist
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| birth_name = Roberta Lynn Gilchrist
| birth_date = {{birth date and age |1965|6|28|df=y}}
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| awards = Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (2002)
Fellow of the British Academy (2008)
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| alma_mater = University of York
| thesis_title = The archaeology of female piety: gender, ideology and material culture in later medieval England (c. 1050-1550)
| thesis_url = https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q115494549
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| discipline = Archaeology
| sub_discipline = {{hlist|Medieval archaeology|Archaeology of religion|Gender archaeology}}
| workplaces = University of East Anglia
University of Reading
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Roberta Lynn Gilchrist, FSA, FBA (born 28 June 1965) is a Canadian-born archaeologist and academic specialising in the medieval period, whose career has been spent in the United Kingdom. She is Professor of Archaeology and Dean of Research at the University of Reading.
Early life and education
Gilchrist was born on 28 June 1965 in Canada.{{cite web|url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U43860|title=Gilchrist, Prof. Roberta Lynn|date=December 2013|website=Who's Who 2014|publisher=A & C Black|access-date=28 June 2014}}{{cite web|title=Roberta Gilchrist|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/XlG_Gx13Scf0iJ1GSsVFPze0oF0/appointments|website=Companies House|access-date=23 March 2016}} She moved to the UK in 1982 to study archaeology at the University of York. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1986 and a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree in 1990. Her doctoral thesis was titled "The archaeology of female piety: gender, ideology and material culture in later medieval England (c. 1050–1550)".{{cite web|title=The archaeology of female piety: gender, ideology and material culture in later medieval England (c. 1050-1550)|url=http://yorsearch.york.ac.uk/44YORK:44YORK_ALMA_DS21226965630001381|website=YorSearch|publisher=University of York|access-date=4 September 2015|date=1990}}
Academic career
Gilchrist began her academic career in 1990, when she became a lecturer at University of East Anglia. In 1996, she moved to the University of Reading to take up the position of Professor of Archaeology. She was previously the Head of School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science. Since 2015, she has been Dean of Research for Heritage and Creativity.
In addition to her university work, she has held a number of positions. From 1993 to 2005, she was the consultant archaeologist to Norwich Cathedral.{{cite web|title=Norwich Cathedral Archaeology|url=http://www.reading.ac.uk/archaeology/research/Projects/arch-RG-norwich-cathedral.aspx|publisher=University of Reading|access-date=28 June 2014}}{{cite web|title=Gilchrist, Professor Roberta|url=http://www.britac.ac.uk/fellowship/directory/ord.cfm?member=6197|website=British Academy Fellows|publisher=British Academy|access-date=28 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304202146/http://www.britac.ac.uk/fellowship/directory/ord.cfm?member=6197|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}} From 1997 to 2006, she was Editor of World Archaeology, an academic journal specialising in all aspects of archaeology. She served as president of the Society for Medieval Archaeology from 2004 to 2007.
She specialises in the archaeology of the medieval period in the UK, especially in relation to the archaeology of religion, and the archaeology of gender.{{cite web|title=Staff Profile:Professor Roberta Gilchrist|url=http://www.reading.ac.uk/archaeology/about/staff/r-l-gilchrist.aspx|website=Department of Archaeology|publisher=University of Reading|access-date=28 June 2014}}
Gilchrist is a member of the Antiquity Trust, which supports the publication of the archaeology journal Antiquity.{{cite web |title=Antiquity Trust |work=Antiquity |url=http://www.antiquity.ac.uk/about/trust |access-date=2023-08-14}}
Honours
In 2002, Gilchrist was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA).{{cite web|title=Fellows Directory - G|url=http://www.sal.org.uk/about-us/fellows-directory/?l=G|publisher=Society of Antiquaries of London|access-date=28 June 2014|archive-date=12 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212083836/https://www.sal.org.uk/about-us/fellows-directory/?l=G|url-status=dead}} In 2008, she was elected a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA).{{cite web|title=Professor Roberta Gilchrist|url=http://www.britac.ac.uk/fellowship/elections/2008/gilchrist-r.cfm|website=Elections to the Fellowship|publisher=British Academy|access-date=28 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215084725/http://www.britac.ac.uk/fellowship/elections/2008/gilchrist-r.cfm|archive-date=15 December 2014|df=dmy-all}} Also in 2008, she won the Society for Medieval Archaeology's Martyn Jope Award for "the best novel interpretation, application of analytical method or presentation of new findings" published in that year's volume of Medieval Archaeology.{{cite web |title=The Society for Medieval Archaeology {{!}} Awards |url=http://www.medievalarchaeology.co.uk/index.php/awards/awards/ |access-date=24 February 2020}}{{cite journal |last1=Gilchrist |first1=Roberta |title=Magic for the Dead? The Archaeology of Magic in Later Medieval Burials |journal=Medieval Archaeology |date=18 July 2013 |volume=52 |issue=1 |pages=119–159 |doi=10.1179/174581708x335468|s2cid=162339681 |url=http://centaur.reading.ac.uk/3556/1/MED52_05.pdf }}
In February 2016, Gilchrist won the "Archaeologist of the Year" award in the Current Archaeology Awards,{{cite web |title=Roberta Gilchrist wins prestigious Archaeologist of the Year award for 2016 |url=http://www.archaeology.co.uk/press/press-release-roberta-gilchrist.htm|website=Current Archaeology |date=3 March 2016 |access-date=4 March 2016}} which are voted for by the public, and recognise people who have made outstanding contributions to archaeology. In 2018 she was elected an Honorary Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge.{{Cite web |url=http://www.reading.ac.uk/news-and-events/releases/PR789008.aspx |title=University of Reading |website=University of Reading |language=en-uk |access-date=30 November 2018}}
Books
- (Edited with H. Mytum) The Archaeology of Rural Monasteries. Oxford: British Archaeological Reports (BAR 203), 1989
- (With M. Oliva) Religious Women in Medieval East Anglia. Norwich: Centre of East Anglian Studies, 1993
- (Edited with H. Mytum) Advances in Monastic Archaeology: Conference on urban monasteries. Oxford: Tempus Reperatum, 1993
- Gender and Material Culture: the archaeology of religious women. London: Routledge, 1994
- Contemplation and Action: the other monasticism. Leicester: Leicester University Press, 1995
- Gender and Archaeology: Contesting the Past. London: Routledge, 1999
- (Edited with D. Gaimster) The Archaeology of Reformation. London: Maneys, 2003
- (With B. Sloane) Requiem: the Medieval Monastic Cemetery in Britain. London: Museum of London Archaeological Service, 2005
- Norwich Cathedral Close: the Evolution of the English Cathedral Landscape. Woodbridge: Boydell and Brewer, 2005
- Medieval Life: Archaeology and the Life Course. Woodbridge: Boydell and Brewer, 2012
- (With C. Green) Glastonbury Abbey: archaeological investigations 1904-79, 2015 [http://www.oapen.org/search?identifier=619339]
- Sacred Heritage: Monastic Archaeology, Identities, Beliefs, Cambridge University Press, 2020, {{ISBN|978-1108496544}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Scholia|author}}
- [http://www.reading.ac.uk/archaeology/about/staff/r-l-gilchrist.aspx Profile page at Reading University]
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Category:Canadian archaeologists
Category:Canadian women archaeologists
Category:Alumni of the University of York
Category:Academics of the University of Reading
Category:Academics of the University of East Anglia
Category:Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London
Category:20th-century Canadian women scientists
Category:Fellows of the British Academy
Category:British women historians