Alan Vince
Encyclopedia
Dr. Alan George Vince was a British
archaeologist who transformed the study of Saxon, medieval and early modern ceramics through the application of petrological, geological and archaeological techniques. He was also a passionate and conscientious teacher and a pioneer in the use of computers and the internet in archaeology.
in the early 1950s, where he attended Keynsham Grammar School. He went on to study archaeology at Southampton University, where he was influenced by Professor David Peacock, who was almost entirely responsible for the introduction of ceramic petrology techniques to the study of ceramics from the British Isles.
Vince's PhD thesis, The Medieval Ceramic Industry of the Severn Valley, made heavy use of artefacts characterised by petrological analysis, and served as justification for the use of this technique to assist with classification of pottery samples.
In 1984, Alan Vince and Martin Biddle
of the Museum of London
, working independently, identified an area to the West of the Roman walled city as the likely location of the middle Anglo-Saxon settlement in London
.
From 1995, Vince was the Managing Editor of a new online journal, Internet Archaeology
. Based in the University of York
, he worked as Managing Editor until 1999, by which time he had overseen the journal through its formative issues and set the standard for what was to follow.
In 1999, Vince stopped working at the University of York to concentrate on his Archaeological Consultancy, based in Lincoln
. As well as his continuing work in the field of ceramic petrology, Vince contributed to many publications, in particular those focusing on the local area, such as The City by the Pool: Assessing the Archaeology of the City of Lincoln (2003).
Vince appeared twice on TV as a pottery expert on the Channel 4 program, Time Team
: in series 7, episode 10 (Sutton, Hereford) and series 10, episode 11 (Not a Blot on the Landscape, Castle Howard, Yorkshire).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
archaeologist who transformed the study of Saxon, medieval and early modern ceramics through the application of petrological, geological and archaeological techniques. He was also a passionate and conscientious teacher and a pioneer in the use of computers and the internet in archaeology.
Academic Work
Vince was born in Bath and moved to KeynshamKeynsham
Keynsham is a town and civil parish between Bristol and Bath in Somerset, south-west England. It has a population of 15,533.It was listed in the Domesday Book as Cainesham, which is believed to mean the home of Saint Keyne....
in the early 1950s, where he attended Keynsham Grammar School. He went on to study archaeology at Southampton University, where he was influenced by Professor David Peacock, who was almost entirely responsible for the introduction of ceramic petrology techniques to the study of ceramics from the British Isles.
Vince's PhD thesis, The Medieval Ceramic Industry of the Severn Valley, made heavy use of artefacts characterised by petrological analysis, and served as justification for the use of this technique to assist with classification of pottery samples.
In 1984, Alan Vince and Martin Biddle
Martin Biddle
Martin Biddle is a British archaeologist. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School. His work was important in the development of medieval and post-medieval archaeology in Great Britain.-Excavations:* Nonsuch Palace 1959-1960* Winchester 1961-1971...
of the Museum of London
Museum of London
The Museum of London documents the history of London from the Prehistoric to the present day. The museum is located close to the Barbican Centre, as part of the striking Barbican complex of buildings created in the 1960s and 70s as an innovative approach to re-development within a bomb damaged...
, working independently, identified an area to the West of the Roman walled city as the likely location of the middle Anglo-Saxon settlement in London
Anglo-Saxon London
This article deals with the history of London during the Anglo-Saxon period, from the ending of the Roman period in the 5th century to the Norman invasion in 1066.-Lundenwic:...
.
From 1995, Vince was the Managing Editor of a new online journal, Internet Archaeology
Internet Archaeology
is an international scholarly journal and one of the first fully peer-reviewed electronic journals for archaeology. It published its first issue in 1996. The journal was part of the eLIb project's electronic journals...
. Based in the University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
, he worked as Managing Editor until 1999, by which time he had overseen the journal through its formative issues and set the standard for what was to follow.
In 1999, Vince stopped working at the University of York to concentrate on his Archaeological Consultancy, based in Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
. As well as his continuing work in the field of ceramic petrology, Vince contributed to many publications, in particular those focusing on the local area, such as The City by the Pool: Assessing the Archaeology of the City of Lincoln (2003).
Vince appeared twice on TV as a pottery expert on the Channel 4 program, Time Team
Time Team
Time Team is a British television series which has been aired on Channel 4 since 1994. Created by television producer Tim Taylor and presented by actor Tony Robinson, each episode features a team of specialists carrying out an archaeological dig over a period of three days, with Robinson explaining...
: in series 7, episode 10 (Sutton, Hereford) and series 10, episode 11 (Not a Blot on the Landscape, Castle Howard, Yorkshire).