Professor Mark Horton

Professor Mark Horton is a distinguished archaeologist, historian, and broadcaster whose work has helped bring Britain’s past to life for both academic and public audiences. He is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Bristol and has spent much of his career exploring the ways in which landscapes, settlements, and human activity have shaped the world we see today.

Mark has worked extensively across Britain and internationally, with a particular interest in coastal archaeology, maritime history, and the long relationship between people and place. His research and fieldwork have taken him from the Cotswolds to the coastlines of Africa and the Caribbean, always with a focus on how environments and communities evolve together over time.

Alongside his academic work, Mark is a familiar face in public history, appearing regularly in television documentaries including BBC’s Time Team, where he helped make archaeology accessible to wider audiences. He is known for his ability to translate complex historical and archaeological ideas into clear, engaging storytelling.

In the context of the Cotswolds, Mark brings a deep historical perspective to the landscape- helping to situate today’s farming and rural life within thousands of years of human activity and change. His work often highlights how deeply interconnected land use, heritage, and community truly are.

Through teaching, research, and public engagement, Professor Mark Horton continues to inspire a deeper understanding of the landscapes we inhabit and the histories they hold.