Introduction

I am an archaeologist, filmmaker, photographer, and musician. The pages on this website give you a flavour of the work I do as an archaeologist and as a filmmaker and photographer.

My career as an archaeologist has so far taken me from studying at Liverpool, to working in Southampton and York, to collaborating with archaeologists in Europe and beyond, leading tours in St Petersburg, and lecturing in China and India. I lead walks and give talks on many aspects of the archaeology and history of York, urban archaeology, heritage management, and world heritage. Appointed in 1989, I was the first archaeologist employed by City of York Council. I left York in 2019 and I am now active as an independent archaeologist and archaeological consultant. I was awarded an MBE for Services to Heritage in 2021. I was elected as a Fellow of Society of Antiquaries of London in 2009.

In my creative work outside archaeology I often work collaboratively with other artists. I have a long-standing friendship and creative collaboration with leading artist Benedict Phillips. I have made films for and with Ryedale Folk Museum, Scarborough Archaeological and Historical Society, Kane Cunningham, and Dr Paul Elsam on a range of subjects from watercolour painting to aspects of the history and archaeology of York. I have produced podcasts on Wilfred Owen in Scarborough for Big Ideas By The Sea.

I am a Director of Big Ideas By The Sea CIC, and with Co-Director Kane Cunningham and other collaborators have created Scarborough's first festival of ideas, Big Ideas By the Sea. A key part of Big Ideas By The Sea is the Scarborough Big Dig, a community archaeology event organised in collaboration with Heritage Adventures Ltd and Scarborough Archaeological and Historical Society.

I write and perform songs with The Corncraykes, a group of musicians pulled together by my musical collaborator Jane Corncrayke and myself.

On twitter, you can follow my archaeological thoughts - @yorkarchaeology - or my non-archaeological musings - @bellevuestudio.

all images and text copyright © John Oxley 2022 all rights reserved