Robin Birley (archaeologist)

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Dr Robin Birley
Dr Robin Birley

Dr Robin Edgar Birley (born 19 January 1935) was formerly the Director of Excavations at the Roman site of Vindolanda, and now heads the Vindolanda research committee. The son of Eric Birley (his family home was thus the Chesterholm Museum at Vindolanda), he worked as a Royal Marine and then a teacher before giving this up to run the Vindolanda Trust and excavate the site. He has over 50 years of excavation experience on that site (as well as directing numerous other excavations at other sites such as Housesteads), over thirty of which have been as director of the Vindolanda Trust (he is one of its founding members).

He is perhaps best known for his discovery in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s of the first Vindolanda writing tablets to be excavated. He is also responsible for the excavations of most of the remains visible on the site today.

His books include Garrison Life on the Roman Frontier, Hadrian's Wall - A Personal Guide and The Best of Hadrian's Wall, as well as joint publication of the most recent series of research reports.

He, his second wife Patricia Birley, and their son Andrew Birley (another archaeologist) work for the registered charity the Vindolanda Trust, which runs the site.

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