Andrew Selkirk

Andrew Selkirk
Occupation Archaeological expert and founder of Current Archaeology
Nationality British
Website
www.currentpublishing.com

Andrew Selkirk is Editor-in-chief of Current Publishing, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and former Vice-President of the Royal Archaeological Institute.

Early life and education

Selkirk attended his very first dig aged 13 years old. His early interest would continue long into adulthood; following secondary education, he read Classics at Oxford, where he would become President of the Oxford University Archaeological Society.[1]

Publishing

He initially pursued a career as a chartered accountant. While editing the student magazine Contra, Selkirk found he had a penchant for magazine publishing. Coupling this with his passion for archaeology, he founded Current Archaeology in 1967.[2] The publication now has a readership over 17,000.[3]

In 1998, he co-founded Current Publishing, as the home of his flagship magazine, and the platform for Current World Archaeology (which launched in 2003) and Military Times (in 2010).

Andrew Selkirk is now the Editor-in-chief of all three publications, whilst his son Robert is the company’s publisher and managing director.

His research and expertise has been cited in many other books, including The Amateur Archaeologist by Stephen Wass (1992);[4] Archaeology in British Towns by Patrick Ottoway (1996);[5] and The Ethics of Archaeology by Chriss Scarre and Geoffrey Scarre (2006).[6] Selkirk's knowledge of British archaeology has been consulted by History Today, in which he has discussed topics including 'the changing face of Pre-Conquest Britain'.[7]

Archaeological career

According to the Northamptonshire Archaeological Society, Selkirk 'has gone on to become very well known throughout British archaeology'.[8] He has worked with a number of archaeological societies and organisations. In addition to his appointments as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and Vice-President of the Royal Archaeological Institute, he is Chairman of the Council for Independent Archaeology, and co-founder of the British Archaeological Awards. As noted by the Archaeology and Contemporary Society of Liverpool University, 'The Council for Independent Archaeology was created in 1989 to ensure that the interests of independent/amateur archaeologists do not get lost in the face of the increasing professionalisation and specialisation of archaeologists and archaeological practice'.[9]

He has served on the councils of the Roman Society and the Prehistoric Society, and has lectured on 'Demystifying Field Archaeology',[10] and 'The Public Face of Archaeology',[11] amongst other subjects. He continues to promote amateur archaeology and archaeology independent of government. According to the Adam Smith Institute, Selkirk 'advocates the use of Independence Impact Statements as part of a drive to end the stuffy pseudo-professional capture of Britain's Arts and Heritage'.[12]

In May 2000, Selkirk appeared as a studio guest on the BBC programme, Talking Point On Air, presented by Robin Lustig, debating the subject 'Whose art is it anyway?'.[13] He has been quoted in The Guardian, condemning cuts to funding on the British Museum.[14]

Personal interests

A keen traveler, Selkirk enjoys touring the archaeological sites of Britain in his camper van, and visiting excavations across the globe. He continues to write on his experiences.

References

  1. ↑ Current Publishing - About Us Archived April 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ Jeffrey May Obituary, The Times (August 2006) http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article614672.ece
  3. ↑ About Current Archaeology
  4. ↑ S. Wass, The Amateur Archaeologist (1992)
  5. ↑ P. Ottaway, Archaeology in British Towns (1996), p. 107
  6. ↑ C. Scarre and G. Scarre, The Ethics of Archaeology (2006), p. 233
  7. ↑ History Today, Archaeology, Volume 36, Issue 9 (31 August 1986)
  8. ↑ Northamptonshire Archaeological Society, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-08-15. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  9. ↑ Archaeology and Contemporary Society, Liverpool University, http://pcwww.liv.ac.uk/~Sinclair/ALGY399_Site/structure_uk.html
  10. ↑ Council for Independent Archaeology, http://www.independents.org.uk/meetings/cong99/prog99.htm[]
  11. ↑ 'The Public Face of Archaeology', http://csweb.bournemouth.ac.uk/tag97/Public_1.htm
  12. ↑ 'Who Owns the Past?', Adam Smith Institute, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-06-17. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  13. ↑ BBC News Online, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/734677.stm
  14. ↑ M. Kennedy, 'British Museum in turmoil as strike forces closure, The Guardian (2002) http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2002/jun/17/education.arts
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