About our staff

Director of Research (Archaeology)

I am an archaeologist whose research focuses on the role marine heritage can play in sustainable development strategies and, more widely, in addressing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. My current research projects use knowledge and data from past human action in the marine and coastal environment to inform solutions to development challenges in that zone. I have specific research interests in coastal societies, submerged settlements, underwater archaeology and the development of innovative digital techniques for the survey and presentation of underwater cultural heritage. The settlement archaeology of Scotland and Atlantic Europe during the Iron Age forms a further area of interest.

AHRC Peer review College (Academic, Interntaional, Knowledge Transfer)

Organising Committee, UN Ocean Decade Heritage Network

UK National Commission for UNESCO expert network (Underwater Cultural Heritage)

Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (MCIfA)

Rising from the Depths AHRC/GCRF Network+

The Thistlegorm Project Red Sea, Egypt

Twitter @drjonchenderson

Summary of research interests

• Africa
• Europe
• Mediterranean
• Scotland

• Ancient Civilisations
• Culture

• Prehistory
• Antiquity
• Twentieth Century & After

I am an archaeologist interested in the potential of heritage, particularly coastal and marine heritage, to lead research that addresses the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

A particular focus of my work is the development of innovative digital techniques for the survey and presentation of underwater sites. 

I have specific research interests in coastal societies, submerged settlements, underwater archaeology and the development of innovative digital techniques for the survey and presentation of underwater cultural heritage.

The settlement archaeology of Scotland and Atlantic Europe during the Iron Age forms a further area of interest.

PI AHRC GCRF Grant: ‘Cultural Heritage and Development in Egypt: Wrecks at Risk: stabilising and enhancing submerged cultural heritage in the Red Sea’ (£172,574). 24 months: starting Oct 2019 until Sep 2021.

PI GCRF AHRC Area-Focused Network+: ‘Rising from the Depths: Utilising Marine Cultural Heritage in East Africa to help develop sustainable social, economic and cultural benefits’ (£2,000,000). Project last 4 years and is due to finish at the end of 2021 though follow on funding is expected as the network develops. www.risingfromthedepths.com

PI British Council Newton Institutional Links Grant: ‘Presence in the Past: Preservation of Egyptian Maritime Cultural Heritage through 3D digital modelling and Virtual Reality presentation’ (£80,700) 2016-2018. www.thethistlegormproject.com / www.pip.edu.eg

My current research projects use knowledge and data from past human action in the marine and coastal environment to inform solutions to development challenges in that zone.

I am currently the Principal Investigator of a £2 million GCRF AHRC-funded Network based at Nottingham that aims to identify how the coastal cultural heritage of Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Madagascar can stimulate ethical, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in East Africa.

I have a strong media profile and regularly appear on radio and TV discussing maritime archaeological topics.

I am active in the writing, presenting and production of factual documentaries including: 

City Beneath the Waves: Pavlopetri BBC2 (2011) 

The Last Battle of the Vikings BBC2 (2012)

Drain the Sunken Pirate City Discovery/National Geographic (2017) 

Egypt’s Lost Wonders, Legends of Atlantis and Lost Worlds of the Mediterranean National Geographic (2018)

Rise of the Roman Empire National Geographic (2019).

I am currently an academic consultant for the National Geographic Drain the Ocean series and I am due to shoot a new documentary for Unearthed at Pavlopetri in 2020. 

I can  supervise PhD and MRes students on a range of archaeology, heritage and sustainable development topics. I have 6 PhD completions as main supervisor and 2 as joint supervisor to date.   

Current student: 

Wycliffe Omondi                   Cultural Heritage conservation as a stimulus for sustainable development along the coast of Kenya.

I have also successfully managed one post-doctoral researcher working on Theory of Change methodologies in a heritage context (2018-2019) and will have two further post-doctoral researcher as part of the Rising from the Depths project in the 2020 to 2021 academic year (topics to be decided and advertised).

Heritage and the Sustinable Development Agenda

Coastal and marine heritage

Underwater Archaeology

Submerged settlements

Scottish Crannogs

Iron Age archaeology of Scotland and Atlantic Europe