Neil Faulkner (archaeologist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Neil Faulkner
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| Born | 22 January 1958 |
| Died | 4 February 2022 (aged 64) |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Skinners' School |
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Notable work
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| Political party | Socialist Workers Party (1980–2010) |
| Children | 3 |
Neil Faulkner (born 22 January 1958 – died 4 February 2022) was a British archaeologist, historian, writer, and political activist. He studied ancient history and dug up old sites to learn about the past. He also wrote many books and appeared on TV to share his knowledge.
Who Was Neil Faulkner?
Neil Faulkner was born on 22 January 1958. He went to school at Skinners' School and later studied at King's College, Cambridge and University College London. Before becoming a famous archaeologist, he worked as a school teacher.
He was involved in many important projects. He helped start Archaeology Worldwide magazine and edited Military History Matters. He also helped lead two big archaeological digs: the Great Arab Revolt Project in Jordan and the Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project in England. In 2008, he became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, which is a special honor for people who study history and old objects.
Sadly, Neil Faulkner was diagnosed with a serious type of blood cancer in 2021. He passed away from this illness in February 2022, when he was 64 years old.
What Did He Research?
Neil Faulkner first trained to study Roman history. He led an excavation (a dig) at an Anglo-Saxon site in Sedgeford, Norfolk, starting in 1996. This project was called the Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Research Project (SHARP).
Later, he spent ten years working on a project about the military actions of Lawrence of Arabia in southern Jordan. This was known as the Great Arab Revolt Project.
He wrote many articles and academic papers. He also wrote ten books, including:
- The Decline and Fall of Roman Britain
- Apocalypse: The Great Jewish Revolt Against Rome
- Rome: Empire of the Eagles
- A Visitor's Guide to the Ancient Olympics
- A Marxist History of the World: From Neanderthals to Neoliberals
- Digging Sedgeford: A People's Archaeology
His last book was Lawrence of Arabia's War.
Media Appearances
Neil Faulkner often appeared on television, both in the UK and other countries. He was on popular shows like Channel Four's Time Team and BBC2's Timewatch. He shared his knowledge as an expert on history and also as a political commentator. He made several short history documentaries for Tariq Ali's TV series The World Today.
In 2019, he was a guest on BBC Radio 4's show In Our Time. On this program, he discussed the famous figure Lawrence of Arabia.
His Political Views
Neil Faulkner was a Marxist and a revolutionary socialist activist. This means he believed in ideas that aim for a society where everyone is equal and resources are shared. He was a member of the Socialist Workers Party from 1980 to 2010. After that, he joined another group called Counterfire. He then helped start new groups like Brick Lane Debates and the Left Book Club. In 2020, he was part of the team that organized Anti-Capitalist Resistance.
