Ben Roberts

Ben Roberts is responsible for the European Bronze Age collections. His research interests include approaches to archaeological cultures and cultural transmission; the appearance and early development of metal in Europe and the Middle East; the roles of jewellery in prehistoric societies; and the production, circulation and deposition of metal objects in prehistoric Europe.

Before joining the department of Prehistory and Europe, Ben studied at the universities of Sheffield and Cambridge and worked for nearly two and a half years on numerous archaeological field projects throughout Britain, Europe and Central America.

Contact

broberts@thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
+44 (0)20 7323 8579

Current projects

• Bronze Age research agenda

• Bronze Age Review

• A History of the World in 100 objects

External fellowships/ honorary positions

• Associate member of the Institute of Field Archaeologists

• Member of the Prehistoric Society

Recent publications

B.W. Roberts and C. Frieman, Early Metal in Western and Northern Europe', in C. Fowler, J. Harding and D. Hoffman (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Neolithic Europe, Oxford: Oxford University Press, forthcoming.

B.W. Roberts, M. Uckelmann and D. Brandherm, 'Old Father Time: the chronology of the Bronze Age in Western Europe', in H. Fokkens and A. Harding (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Bronze Age Europe, Oxford: Oxford University Press, forthcoming.

B.W. Roberts and M. Vander Linden (eds.), Investigating Archaeological Cultures: material culture, variability and transmission, (New York: Springer, forthcoming)

B.W. Roberts, and C. Frieman, forthcoming ‘Drawing boundaries and building models: investigating the concept of the ‘Chalcolithic frontier’ in Northwest Europe. In M. Allen, J Gardiner, A. Sheridan & D. McOmish (eds.) Is there a British Chalcolithic: people, place and polity in the later 3rd millennium BC, (Oxford, Oxbow)

C.P. Thornton, J.M. Golden, D.J. Killick, V.C. Pigott, Th. Rehren, and B.W. Roberts, ‘A Chalcolithic Error: Rebuttal to Amzallag 2009’. American Journal of Archaeology 114 (2010) 305–15

B. W. Roberts, C.P. Thornton, V.C. Pigott, ‘Development of metallurgy in Eurasia’. Antiquity 83 (2009), 1012–1022.

T.L. Kienlin, and B.W. Roberts, (eds.) Metals and Societies. Studies in honour of Barbara S. Ottaway. Universitätsforschungen zur prähistorischen Archäologie (Bonn, Habelt, 2009)

C.P. Thornton and B.W. Roberts, ‘Introduction: The Beginnings of Metallurgy in Global Perspective’. Journal of World Prehistory 22, (2009), pp 181-4

B.W. Roberts, 'Production Networks and Consumer Choice in the Earliest Metal of Western Europe', Journal of World Prehistory 22, (2009), pp. 461–481

B.W. Roberts, ‘Subsistence, Structures and Craftworking: analysing economic dynamics in Britain 2500-800 BC’ in M. Bartelheim and H. Stäuble (eds.) The Economic Foundations of the European Bronze Age (Rahden/Westf, Leidorf, 2009)

B.W. Roberts, 'Migration, craft expertise and metallurgy: analysing the ‘spread’ of metal in Europe' Archaeological Review from Cambridge 23 (2), (2008), pp. 27-45

B.W. Roberts, 'Creating Traditions and Shaping Technologies: understanding the emergence of metallurgy in Western Europe c. 3500-2000 BC', World Archaeology 40 (3), (2008), pp. 354-72

B.W. Roberts, The Bronze Age, in L. Atkins, R. Atkins and V. Leitch (eds) The Handbook of British Archaeology, second edition, (London: Constable and Robinson, 2008), pp. 60-91

B.S. Ottaway and B.W. Roberts, 'The emergence of metalworking', in A. Jones (ed.) Prehistoric Europe (London, Blackwell, 2008), pp. 193-225

B.W. Roberts, 'Adorning the living but not the dead: a reassessment of Middle Bronze Age ornaments in Britain', Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 73 (2007), pp.135-167

B.W. Roberts, 'Evidence of Roman agricultural drainage: excavation south of the former A120, Takeley, 2003’, Essex Archaeology and History, 38 (2007) pp. 53-65

K. Nicholson and B.W. Roberts, ‘Roman deposits at Lynmouth Gardens/Parkway, Chelmsford; excavations 2003’, Essex Archaeology and History’, 38 (2007) pp. 89-101

L. O’Brien and B.W. Roberts, ‘Excavations at the former Shell Garage site, 84-88 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford’, Essex Archaeology and History, 38 (2007) pp. 102-108

B.W. Roberts, ‘Excavations at the former Dovercourt Motors site, Spital Road, Maldon, 2002’, Essex Archaeology and History, 38 (2007) pp. 109-119

L. O'Brien and B.W. Roberts, 'Excavations on Roman Ermine Street at the New Restaurant Facility, GlaxoSmithKline, Ware', Hertfordshire Archaeology and History, 14 (2004-5) pp. 3-39

B.W. Roberts and B.S. Ottaway, 'The use and significance of Late Bronze Age socketed axes in Britain: an experimental and contextual approach', Journal of European Archaeology, 6 (2), (2003) pp. 117-13