Derek is an archaeologist whose research focuses on how humans use and exploit resources and how early communities became settled and subsequently urbanised. He also combines archaeological science, field archaeology and experimental archaeology to explore themes such as social complexity, identity and communication.
Derek has conducted fieldwork in Britain, Russia, Greece, Serbia and Spain and has research links across the world. This includes collaborations with Gothenburg University, Pittsburgh University and the Swedish institute in Athens alongside research links within the UK with partners such as the Roman Baths (Bath), the University of Newcastle and BCP Council.
Through these collaborations he has studied early urbanisation in Greece and Spain, ancient metallurgy in Russia, the origins of settlement in Europe, and Iron Age and Romano British resource exploitation.
Derek has featured on BBC News, BBC South today and Radio 4 as well as internationally on Russia 1. He also posts regular video updates from his ongoing research and co-hosts the archaeologically themed podcast ‘Career in Ruins’. Derek is the newest presenter on the classic British archaeology show Time Team.
You can find Derek on Twitter: @derekpitman