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About

Sophia Adams

Your host for BronzeAgeHoards.com

Sophia Adams in red coat, yellow scarf and blue nitrile gloves looking at finds in a cold museum store

I’m Sophia (also known as Sophie). I’ve spent more than half my life working in archaeology. I recently took on the role of Curator: European Iron Age and Roman Conquest Period, at The British Museum. This follows employment as post-doctorate researcher at SUERC, University of Glasgow. I also undertake community engagement and finds specialist work.

I am into prehistory, especially metalwork from the Bronze Age and Iron Age. My research is fuelled by an obsession with detail and a desire to improve the dating of archaeological remains. On this website I share with you my fascination in the way things are done: from making an object, to preserving a find, to recording artefacts and more besides. 

I hold a Doctorate in Archaeology, from the University of Leicester; a Masters in Art and Archaeology from University College London (UCL) and a BA in Archaeology from UCL. https://glasgow.academia.edu/SophiaAdams

Other characters in the Bronze Age Hoards story

Dana Goodburn Brown (left) and Marie Le Saux (right) peer down their microscopes as they carefully clean soil from axes in the Boughton Malherbe hoard

Dana Goodburn Brown

Dana is leading the conservation work on the Boughton Malherbe hoard, funded by The William and Edith Oldham Charitable Trust.

Dana has over 40 years’ experience working with museums and heritage organisations. She is an accredited professional archaeological conservator and founding director of a Community Interest Company focusing on specialist materials, research, training and public engagement with heritage. She is a graduate of UCL Bartlet’s Sustainable Heritage MSc programme and is increasingly involved in cultural education, engagement and community involvement projects.

Dana’s interest in Bronze Age hoards stems from experimental work she has been involved with from her foundry days at AMTeC Heritage Science CIC, in the Historic Dockyard Chatham, and in the woods for Time Team’s programme on Sea Henge; as well as early research into toolmarks and surface studies of ‘waterlogged metals’ in London.

Marie Le Saux

Marie is assisting Dana with the conservation work on the Boughton Malherbe hoard.

Marie trained in conservation in 2006. She was an ICON (Institute of Conservation) intern in historical metals (EURA conservation, Ironbridge) and in conservation of Archaeology and Anthropology collections (Marischall Museum, Aberdeen). She has worked with Dana Goodburn Brown as an Archaeological Conservation Assistant since 2007 and now has a collections care role at The British Museum.

Marie has carried out conservation work and finds assistant roles on a variety of projects in the UK and Middle East including collections survey, hands-on lab-based conservation, as well as on-site conservation and block-lifting at Sir Bani Yas island. This work covers all types of archaeological materials (metals, mummies, skeletons, ceramics…) and diverse projects: from the Royal Armouries in Hampton Court Palace to Anthony Gormley’s sculptures.