Tony Pollard
Encyclopedia
Tony Pollard is an archaeologist specialising in the archaeology
of conflict. He is Director of the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology at Glasgow University. He is the co-presenter of the BBC
series Two Men in a Trench and co-founder of the "Journal of Conflict Archaeology".
Tony was born in Macclesfield
in the north of England in 1965, though he moved to Oban
on the West coast of Scotland
in the late 1970s. He studied archaeology at Glasgow University and after graduating stayed on to do a PhD on prehistoric hunter gatherers. After obtaining his PhD in 1995 he spent two years living in Brighton while working for the field archaeology unit of University College London
. In 1997 he returned to Glasgow to work for Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (GUARD). Following a first visit to South Africa
in 1999 he carried out a project investigating battlefields from the Anglo-Zulu War
of 1879. In 2000 he co-organised, with Phil Freeman of Liverpool University, the first ever international conference on Battlefield Archaeology. He then went on to make two series of Two Men in a Trench which introduced the public to the archaeology of British battlefields.
The Centre for Battlefield Archaeology was founded in 2006 and Tony appointed its Director. Since then the Centre has gone on to offer the world's first post-graduate course in Battlefield and Conflict Archaeology. The Centre has carried out various projects which include the examination of Jacobite battlefields in Scotland (including Culloden
) and most recently the investigation of British and Australian mass graves from World War I at Fromelles
in France.
He has written numerous papers and articles on archaeology and military history and edited several books on subjects as diverse as the early prehistory of Scotland and the archaeology of death. Along with Neil Oliver
he wrote the two books accompanying the Two Men in a Trench programmes.
In 2008 his first novel The Minutes of the Lazarus Club, a thriller based on the life of the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel
, was published by Michael Joseph. It was published in 2009 by Penguin
under the title of The Secrets of the Lazarus Club.
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
of conflict. He is Director of the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology at Glasgow University. He is the co-presenter of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
series Two Men in a Trench and co-founder of the "Journal of Conflict Archaeology".
Tony was born in Macclesfield
Macclesfield
Macclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688...
in the north of England in 1965, though he moved to Oban
Oban
Oban Oban Oban ( is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. It has a total resident population of 8,120. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by up to 25,000 people. Oban...
on the West coast of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in the late 1970s. He studied archaeology at Glasgow University and after graduating stayed on to do a PhD on prehistoric hunter gatherers. After obtaining his PhD in 1995 he spent two years living in Brighton while working for the field archaeology unit of University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. In 1997 he returned to Glasgow to work for Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (GUARD). Following a first visit to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 1999 he carried out a project investigating battlefields from the Anglo-Zulu War
Anglo-Zulu War
The Anglo-Zulu War was fought in 1879 between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom.Following the imperialist scheme by which Lord Carnarvon had successfully brought about federation in Canada, it was thought that a similar plan might succeed with the various African kingdoms, tribal areas and...
of 1879. In 2000 he co-organised, with Phil Freeman of Liverpool University, the first ever international conference on Battlefield Archaeology. He then went on to make two series of Two Men in a Trench which introduced the public to the archaeology of British battlefields.
The Centre for Battlefield Archaeology was founded in 2006 and Tony appointed its Director. Since then the Centre has gone on to offer the world's first post-graduate course in Battlefield and Conflict Archaeology. The Centre has carried out various projects which include the examination of Jacobite battlefields in Scotland (including Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
) and most recently the investigation of British and Australian mass graves from World War I at Fromelles
Battle of Fromelles
The Battle of Fromelles, sometimes known as the Action at Fromelles or the Battle of Fleurbaix , occurred in France between 19 July and 20 July 1916, during World War I...
in France.
He has written numerous papers and articles on archaeology and military history and edited several books on subjects as diverse as the early prehistory of Scotland and the archaeology of death. Along with Neil Oliver
Neil Oliver
Neil Oliver is a Scottish broadcaster and author. He grew up in Ayr and Dumfries before attending Glasgow University to study archaeology...
he wrote the two books accompanying the Two Men in a Trench programmes.
In 2008 his first novel The Minutes of the Lazarus Club, a thriller based on the life of the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
, was published by Michael Joseph. It was published in 2009 by Penguin
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
under the title of The Secrets of the Lazarus Club.