Chester professor elected to UK royal society championing archaeology

Professor Howard Williams has been voted onto the Council of the Royal Archaeological Institute (RAI). 

The four-year role sees Howard become a trustee of the RAI, supporting its work in delivering public benefit. He will help to further its aims in championing archaeology and related disciplines by studying, protecting, and engaging the public with new understandings about aspects of the human past relevant to the UK, from prehistory to the 20th century. 

Howard said: “I'm honoured and excited to be able to take up this role on the RAI's Council and apply my expertise in academic research, teaching and public education relating to my specialisms in the archaeology and heritage of death and memory.” 

Howard was elected to the Council of the RAI at its Annual General Meeting earlier this year. The Council is the steering group of the society. 

The honour follows his work as Honorary Editor for the RAI's annual prestigious peer-reviewed publication, the Archaeological Journal, for six volumes produced over five years from 2012 to 2017. 

Howard is a Professor of Archaeology and Programme Leader for the MRes (Master of Research) in Archaeology at the University of Chester, with more than 27 years of experience in academic teaching and research. Howard's research explores the archaeology of death, burial and commemoration in Britain and Scandinavia in the Middle Ages, focusing in particular on early medieval Wales and the Anglo-Saxon and Viking worlds. 

For further information about the RAI, please visit: https://www.royalarchinst.org/