Jan is an archaeologist with a particular interest in Neolithic and early Bronze Age Britain. He has extensive teaching experience of archaeological theory and later European prehistory, and has completed large-scale fieldwork, most notably at the Thornborough monument complex in North Yorkshire. His seven books and numerous academic papers and articles explore a range of subjects, including the monuments, burials, and religions of the fourth and third millennia BC.
His first degree was at Sheffield University, and after a year working as a field archaeologist, he moved to Reading University, where he completed his PhD under the supervision of Prof. Richard Bradley. He taught there for three years before heading north to join Newcastle University as a lecturer. During his 20 years at Newcastle he undertook a number of administrative roles within the university, served as an external examiner and reviewer to other universities, was a member of a number of national committees, and acted as referee for some of the best known academic journals. He took early retirement in 2017.
He lives in the beautiful north Pennines around a one-hour drive from Long Meg. After retiring he took a break from archaeology, spending as much time as possible with his young son. But more recently, he’s re-engaged with prehistory, and has started writing a new book about the Neolithic and early Bronze Age monuments of North Yorkshire, exploring, amongst other things, their relationship with the henges and stone circles of Cumbria. He is also a trustee of Epiacum Heritage, where his responsibilities include the Molehill Project at the Roman fort and its extra-mural settlement.