University professor named archaeologist of the year

Professor Joyce Tyldesley from the University of Manchester has been named Archaeologist of the Year following a public vote by Current Archaeology magazine readers. The award is decided solely by public vote, with no judging panels involved.

The Current Archaeology awards honour projects and publications featured in the magazine over the past year, recognising individuals who have made "outstanding contributions" to the field of archaeology.

Tyldesley pursued archaeology of the Eastern Mediterranean at the University of Liverpool before earning a Doctor of Philosophy in prehistoric archaeology from Oxford University. In 2024, she received an OBE for her contributions to Egyptology and Heritage. Tyldesley has released several books and articles on ancient Egypt, including three companion books for television documentaries. Her book 'Tutankhamun: The Search for an Egyptian King' received the Felicia A. Holton Book Award from the Archaeological Institute of America. In response to being awarded archaeologist of the year, Tyldesley said: "I feel so honoured to win the Archaeologist of the Year award - thank you to Current Archaeology, and to everyone who voted. I regard this as an award to be shared with my amazing team at The University of Manchester, all of whom are all dedicated to making the past accessible to all".

Senior Lecturer in Egyptology, Dr. Nicky Nielsen, stated:  “This is a very well-deserved honour. Professor Tyldesley has shaped the study of Egyptian archaeology here at Manchester for decades, as well as her extensive work in outreach and scholarly communication, and it’s wonderful to see her get recognition from the wider field”.