Mark Horton (archaeologist)
Encyclopedia
Mark Chatwin Horton is a British maritime and historical archaeologist, television presenter and writer.
He is the youngest of four children, the oldest being the industrialist Sir Robert Horton
. He is married to archaeologist Catherine (Kate) Clark, Director of the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, and they have three children, Jack, Henrietta and Owen.
University, graduating and receiving a doctorate. He is Professor in Archaeology at the University of Bristol
.
He has conducted excavations in Zanzibar, Egypt, the Caribbean, North America, Central America and France, as well as sites in Britain. His chief publications are on the Swahili site of Shanga (Kenya) between 1980 and 1986 and more recently sites on the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, notably Tumbatu, Ras Mkumbuu, Mtambwe Mkuu and Chwaka. He also has a strong interest in maritime archaeology and is the Programme Director of the MA Maritime Archaeology and History at Bristol University. His other world-class excavations include the Scottish Darien Colony (1698–1700) in Panama, the Cistercian Abbey of Grosbot (Charente, France), the Bishops Palace at Wells, a medieval farmstead at Carscliffe (Somerset), Fishmongers Cave, Alveston (South Gloucestershire) and he is currently working at Berkeley Castle (Gloucestershire). In 2008-11 he undertook survey and excavation work in the Kherlen Valley in Mongolia.
He also has an abiding interest in Isambard Kingdom Brunel
and directed the digitisation of the engineer's sketch books and letters at Bristol University library, which project was grant-aided by the Arts and Humanities Research Council in 2003,
He was made a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
on 7 May 1992.
television programme on the Atlantic slave trade in 1998.
He was closely involved in the inception of the long-running Channel 4
television series Time Team
and the first episode was filmed in his home town of Much Wenlock
, Shropshire
in 1994. He has appeared on several subsequent programmes including Hylton Castle
, Sunderland
, in 1995 and Aston Eyre
, Shropshire
in 1998.
In 2000 he acted as tiles specialist on the Time Team Live. Having invited Time Team to investigate the bones found by cavers in a cave in the village of Alveston
, Gloucestershire
, he appeared in the programme on this site shown in 2001. In 2008, further work on the site was included in a National Geographic / Channel Five documentary, Julius Caesar and the Druids
He was a co-presenter on two series of the BBC Two production, Time Flyers 2002 – 2003. In 2004 he presented BBC Scotland's programme Darien: Disaster in Paradise, which was highly commended in the archaeological film category at that year's British Archaeological Awards. From 2005 Horton is one of the team of presenters on the programme Coast
, exploring the coastline of Britain. He also presents occasional pieces for BBC1 Inside Out, West and South West Regions. He was the archaeological consultant on the TV drama Bonekickers
, shown on BBC One in 2008.
and built in 1946-7.
He is the youngest of four children, the oldest being the industrialist Sir Robert Horton
Robert Horton
Sir Robert Horton, FRSA is a British businessman. He is a Director of the European Advisory Council and of Emerson Electric Company. He spent 30 years working for BP, formerly British Petroleum. He became Chief Executive and Chairman of the Board of BP in March 1990, but was forced out in 1992...
. He is married to archaeologist Catherine (Kate) Clark, Director of the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, and they have three children, Jack, Henrietta and Owen.
Academic career
Horton attended CambridgePeterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely...
University, graduating and receiving a doctorate. He is Professor in Archaeology at the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
.
He has conducted excavations in Zanzibar, Egypt, the Caribbean, North America, Central America and France, as well as sites in Britain. His chief publications are on the Swahili site of Shanga (Kenya) between 1980 and 1986 and more recently sites on the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, notably Tumbatu, Ras Mkumbuu, Mtambwe Mkuu and Chwaka. He also has a strong interest in maritime archaeology and is the Programme Director of the MA Maritime Archaeology and History at Bristol University. His other world-class excavations include the Scottish Darien Colony (1698–1700) in Panama, the Cistercian Abbey of Grosbot (Charente, France), the Bishops Palace at Wells, a medieval farmstead at Carscliffe (Somerset), Fishmongers Cave, Alveston (South Gloucestershire) and he is currently working at Berkeley Castle (Gloucestershire). In 2008-11 he undertook survey and excavation work in the Kherlen Valley in Mongolia.
He also has an abiding interest in 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...
and directed the digitisation of the engineer's sketch books and letters at Bristol University library, which project was grant-aided by the Arts and Humanities Research Council in 2003,
He was made a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London
Society of Antiquaries of London
The 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...
on 7 May 1992.
TV career
Mark Horton's first television appearances sprang from his academic work in East Africa. He contributed to a programme by Time Life Television Lost Civilisations – Africa in 1996 and to a Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
television programme on the Atlantic slave trade in 1998.
He was closely involved in the inception of the long-running Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
television series 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...
and the first episode was filmed in his home town of Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock, earlier known as Wenlock, is a small town in central Shropshire, England. It is situated on the A458 road between Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth. Nearby, to the northeast, is the Ironbridge Gorge, and the new town of Telford...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
in 1994. He has appeared on several subsequent programmes including Hylton Castle
Hylton Castle
Hylton Castle is a ruined stone castle in the North Hylton area of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England. Originally built from wood by the Hilton family shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066, it was later rebuilt in stone in the late 14th to early 15th century...
, Sunderland
City of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...
, in 1995 and Aston Eyre
Aston Eyre
Aston Eyre is a hamlet and civil parish in Shropshire, England, about four miles west of Bridgnorth. The parish had a population of 54 according to the 2001 census. The Manor House dates from the early 14th century.-External links:...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
in 1998.
In 2000 he acted as tiles specialist on the Time Team Live. Having invited Time Team to investigate the bones found by cavers in a cave in the village of Alveston
Alveston
Alveston is a commuter village of roughly 3000 people about south of Thornbury, South Gloucestershire and approximately north of Bristol, England. Alveston is twinned with Courville sur Eure, France. It has two hotels, a variety of small shops, several parks and fields, two churches and a...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, he appeared in the programme on this site shown in 2001. In 2008, further work on the site was included in a National Geographic / Channel Five documentary, Julius Caesar and the Druids
He was a co-presenter on two series of the BBC Two production, Time Flyers 2002 – 2003. In 2004 he presented BBC Scotland's programme Darien: Disaster in Paradise, which was highly commended in the archaeological film category at that year's British Archaeological Awards. From 2005 Horton is one of the team of presenters on the programme Coast
Coast (TV series)
Coast is a BBC documentary series first broadcast on BBC Two television in 2005. A second series started on 26 October 2006, a third in early 2007 and a fourth in mid-2009...
, exploring the coastline of Britain. He also presents occasional pieces for BBC1 Inside Out, West and South West Regions. He was the archaeological consultant on the TV drama Bonekickers
Bonekickers
Bonekickers was a BBC drama about a team of archaeologists, set at the fictional Wessex University. It debuted on 8 July 2008 and ran for one series....
, shown on BBC One in 2008.
Interests
He is a keen sailor and enjoys dinghy-sailing on the River Severn and restoring his historic 26 feet (7.9 m) yacht, Mignonette, a Lone Gull design of Maurice GriffithsMaurice Griffiths
Maurice Griffiths is a noted yachtsman, boat designer and writer on sailing subjects. In his writing of some 20 book he focuses on the creeks of the Thames Estuary and the English east coast. Books he has written include The Magic of the Swatchways, Swatchways and Little Ships, Sailing on a Small...
and built in 1946-7.
Books
- 1996. Shanga: The Archaeology of a Muslim Trading Community on the Coast of East Africa. British Institute in Eastern Africa, Monograph Series 14. (with Helen W. Brown and Nina Mudida).
- 2001. The Swahili. Oxford: Blackwell (with John Middleton).