About
Sam Bithell is a Career Development Fellow in the Department of Earth Sciences at Durham University, specializing in geophysical reinterpretation of Roman frontier monuments, particularly the Vallum of Hadrian's Wall.
His academic credentials include:
- BA Archaeology (1st Class), Durham University (2012-2015)
- MA Archaeology by Thesis (part-time), Durham University (2017-2020)
- PhD in Geophysics and Archaeology (ongoing), Durham University (2021-present)
Sam's research integrates landscape archaeology with advanced geophysical techniques, focusing on electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), ground-penetrating radar (GPR), and gradiometry to investigate earthwork survival and landscape context. His work challenges conventional interpretations of the Vallum through spatial analysis of LiDAR and aerial imagery, revealing unexpected monument preservation and complex functional relationships within Hadrian's frontier system.
Scientific Awards: None documented in source material.
Sam has extensive field supervision experience across international projects including the Sources de l'Yonne sanctuary (Burgundy), Scots Dyke earthwork (North Yorkshire), and Ness of Brodgar Neolithic complex (Orkney). His industry background includes managing archaeological components for major infrastructure projects like HS2 and offshore windfarm cable routes, developing expertise in regulatory compliance (DCOs), environmental management, and technical reporting for Headland and Cotswold Archaeology.
He collaborates with leading researchers including Prof. Tom Moore (Durham), Prof. Andrew Reynolds (UCL), and Ralf Hoppadiez (Leipzig) on multi-year excavations, contributing to publications like the Bagendon Project monograph (2020).
