Barri Jones
Encyclopedia
Geraint Dyfed Barri Jones (4 April 1936 - 16 July 1999) was a classical scholar and archaeologist.
Born in St Helens
to Welsh-speaking parents, he attended High Wycombe Royal Grammar School (where his father was the senior modern languages master and his mother also taught) from 1947–1954, and won a Welsh Foundation Scholarship to read classics at Jesus College, Oxford
.
Jones achieved a great deal as a young man, identifying new archaeological sites while a teenager. He was elected to the Rome Scholarship for Classical Studies in 1959. From 1959-1962, Jones took part in the South Etruria Survey directed by John Bryan Ward-Perkins
of the British School at Rome
. After receiving his D.Phil from Oxford, Jones continued to work in Italy, analyzing aerial photographs of Apulia
, leading to important discoveries at Foggia
. In 1964, he took an appointment at the University of Manchester
. While there, he conducted numerous field surveys and excavations of Roman sites in Lancashire
, Cheshire
, Cumbria
and Derbyshire
. He also worked at Dolaucothi, a Roman gold mine in Carmarthenshire
, South Wales
, his research there with Dr Peter R Lewis transforming knowledge about this unique site. He excavated the fort nearby, as well as at Carmarthen
.
by tracing its aqueduct
. He was very much involved in rescue archaeology throughout his career. Jones was attracted to frontier areas, an interest reflected in his work. Among his students were John Lloyd , John Little, Nicholas Higham and David Mattingly
.
Born in St Helens
St Helens, Merseyside
St Helens is a large town in Merseyside, England. It is the largest settlement and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens with a population of just over 100,000, part of an urban area with a total population of 176,843 at the time of the 2001 Census...
to Welsh-speaking parents, he attended High Wycombe Royal Grammar School (where his father was the senior modern languages master and his mother also taught) from 1947–1954, and won a Welsh Foundation Scholarship to read classics at Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
.
Fieldwork and excavations
John Bryan Ward-Perkins
John Bryan Ward-Perkins CMG, CBE, FBA was a British Classical architectural historian and archaeologist, and director of the British School at Rome.-Background:...
of the British School at Rome
British School at Rome
The British School at Rome was established in 1901 and granted a Royal Charter in 1912 as an educational institute in the fields of archaeology, literature, music, and history of Rome and Italy of every period, and for the study of the fine arts and architecture...
. After receiving his D.Phil from Oxford, Jones continued to work in Italy, analyzing aerial photographs of Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
, leading to important discoveries at Foggia
Foggia
Foggia is a city and comune of Apulia, Italy, capital of the province of Foggia. Foggia is the main city of a plain called Tavoliere, also known as the "granary of Italy".-History:...
. In 1964, he took an appointment at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
. While there, he conducted numerous field surveys and excavations of Roman sites in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
and Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
. He also worked at Dolaucothi, a Roman gold mine in Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, his research there with Dr Peter R Lewis transforming knowledge about this unique site. He excavated the fort nearby, as well as at Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
.
Libya
Jones worked in North Africa for the Society for Libyan Studies, discovering the city of HadrianopolisHadrianopolis
Hadrianopolis was the name of numerous cities in the ancient world, named after the Roman Emperor Hadrian, including:* Hadrianopolis in Bithynia* Hadrianopolis in Chaonia, later Justinianopolis...
by tracing its aqueduct
Aqueduct
An aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....
. He was very much involved in rescue archaeology throughout his career. Jones was attracted to frontier areas, an interest reflected in his work. Among his students were John Lloyd , John Little, Nicholas Higham and David Mattingly
David Mattingly
David Burroughs Mattingly is an American illustrator and painter best known for his numerous book covers of science fiction and fantasy literature.-Art collections:...
.
Selected works
- with Peter R. Lewis The Roman gold mines at Dolancothi (1971).
- with Nicholas Higham. The Carvetii (1985).
- Apulia (1987).
- with David Mattingly. An atlas of Roman Britain (1990).
- with John Bryan Ward-Perkins et al. The Severan buildings of Lepcis Magna : an architectural survey (1993).
- Hadrian's Wall from the air (2001).
- Archaeology of the Roman Empire: a tribute to the life and works of Professor Barri Jones (2001).
External links
- Obituary by Anthony BirleyAnthony BirleyAnthony Richard Birley was the Professor of Ancient History at University of Manchester and at University of Düsseldorf . He is the son of the archaeologist Eric Birley, who bought the house next to Vindolanda where Anthony and his brother Robin began to excavate the site...
Friday July 23, 1999 in The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format... - Obituary by David Mattingly in The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
- Obituary at the Society of AntiquariesSociety of Antiquaries of LondonThe Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...