The latest archaeologist to come under our spotlight is Raksha Dave, another Time Team regular, and member of the team for the current series.
Brief Bio:
Raksha has been a professional archaeologist for 12 years and is currently the Project Manager for Dig Ventures and a Senior Archaeologist and presenter for Time Team. Most of her field experience has been based in the commercial sector in London and has worked on numerous projects such as St Mary Spital and the Blossom’s Inn site, Gresham Street. She is now in her 10th year working for Time Team as a Senior Archaeologist and has excavated and supervised various sites in the UK and abroad.
Raksha has also worked in the public sector in local government focusing on education and communities. Her interests firmly lie in participation, advocacy and education through archaeology.
The 10 Questions:
What sparked your interest in Archaeology?
I was four and was absolutely fascinated by a dinosaur book I saw in a bookshop. I vaguely remember harassing my poor mother into submission and making her buy it for me. I still have it to this day. From this, sprung forth an absolute obsession with anything historical, pre-historical and dare I say palaeontological. Luckily I was not really taken by Geology so much when I studied it at A-Level, apart from the cool stuff like fossils and seismology. I always knew I’d end up in archaeology; the romantic ideal of discovering something lost and amazing always appealed!
How did you get started?
I went through the traditional route of going to University to do my undergrad (UCL) and after a brief stint of being a receptionist – (which, by the way I really sucked at!) I decided that I couldn’t call myself an archaeologist unless I actually knew how to dig. I had been on numerous research excavations before but I felt that I wouldn’t truly know my trade unless I spent time working in the commercial sector. That’s the place where you can fine tune and hone your digging skills and may I also say find out whether field archaeology is for you or not. I was very lucky I got my break in 2000, 4 months after I graduated and started working for the Museum of London Archaeology Service (as was). Since then I’ve never really looked back.
Who has most influenced your career?
I would have to say my colleagues and lady luck. I have been extremely lucky to have been in contact with some of the best in the commercial archaeology sector in London and opportunities that have suddenly appeared from nowhere like Time Team. I cannot thank my original mentor Ken Pitt, Senior Archaeologist at MoLA, enough for teaching me that you should always ask if you don’t know what you’re doing and that you can always do better. He’s very good at dishing out the tough love and making you think about what you’re doing. He’s also one of the best mattockers I know – you wouldn’t want to mess with Ken whilst he’s wielding one of those!
Which has been your most exciting project to date?
Gosh, how long is a piece of string?! I am one of the lucky few and have to remind myself on a daily basis that I do not have an average archaeological career. I was lucky to work on some of the most amazing sites in the City at the beginning of my career and have just completed a stint for MoLA working on more amazing deep-urban-strat sites. Also being on Time Team for the past 10 years has also enabled me to work all over the UK and abroad on some of the most iconic or discover previously unknown sites in the world. It’s not normal for one person to have worked on excavations ranging from the prehistoric to the second world war. I have to remember not to be so blase about excavating Westminster Abbey or raising an A27 bomber from the marshes in Lancashire…. ahem! (*clears throat*) not to mention the forthcoming field season at Flag Fen!! It’s all a bit showy-offy, major egos and smugness in people is so unattractive and unnecessary so I’ll just shut up!
What is your favourite British archaeological site… and why?
I don’t have a specific favourite British archaeological site. Over the years I have seen that every site has an interesting human story. I am fascinated by the bigger picture and am lucky to see how certain regions and areas have influenced each other by the spread of material culture, religion or building styles. The early Christian sites on the Western coast of the UK ranging from Isle of Man all the way to Mull for example are just fascinating. The cross-pollination of ideas by human migration within a small time-frame is just astounding.
What is your biggest archaeological/heritage regret?
I have no personal archaeological/heritage regrets at all – what a strange question!
If you could change one thing about current heritage protection legislation, what would it be?
There’s quite a lot I would change. I think there are a lot of challenges and I’m still getting my head around the new planning guidance NPPF. I think one of our most major challenges is how we are going to protect sites that are not traditionally seen as heritage assets such as the array of Post-Medieval sites that are machined away on a daily basis or simply neglected.
If you were able to address Parliament for 30 seconds on archaeology what would you say?
Well for a start 30 seconds isn’t enough time! I am also a tad jaded when it comes to current British politics and have spent far too many years acting as advocate and lobbying certain politicians enough to know that if it isn’t on the party agenda then I will be wasting my breath! It irks me to know that culture, heritage and the historic environment are not treated as the major assets to the UK that they truly are. They have a valid place in our current economy which encourages tourism and community cohesion so why is it not valued by the policy makers? I know a handful of eminent people who would be far more qualified to make the address.
If your career hadn’t worked out, what would you be doing now?
Acting: I almost went to drama school before being persuaded to put the sensible hat on and thinking about getting a education – degrees were free in those days!
Away from the ‘day job’, how do you relax?
Running, drinking, seeing friends and loved-ones. Usual stuff people do, like live!
Knowing how madly busy Raksha is at the moment, we can only extend our heartfelt thanks for her replies! We’re always looking for more willing subjects, so if you work in the Heritage or Archaelogy arenas and would like to be part of this series, please email us on info (at) heritageaction (dot) org (dot) uk
Earlier entries in this series:
The Heritage Journal 
4 comments
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12/04/2012 at 11:48
Trenchfoot
I like these articles but it is interesting to see the common thread re the question about changing heritage legislation. I collated the responses to date below as it makes interesting reading.
If you could change one thing about current heritage protection legislation, what would it be?
I would find a way to stop the continued ploughing of Scheduled Ancient Monuments. It was dreadful to see the constant destructive erosion of sites while I was working on the MPP and know that nothing was going to change. And it’s no use saying we need more experiments or spending more energy talking about it (as we have been for over 30 years). Ploughing wrecks sites. We need action.
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If you could change one thing about current heritage protection legislation, what would it be?
The object of the legislation should be to maximise new knowledge, not to record endangered deposits.
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What is your biggest archaeological/heritage regret?
That we have not yet managed to secure statutory status for local authority Historic Environment Records, and the services that are need to maintain and develop them, but I hope that this is something that can be resolved in the coming years. The HERs are vital planning tools, but also crucial ‘knowledge banks’ for professional and voluntary enthusiasts, and they need to be protected from public sector funding cutbacks.
If you could change one thing about current heritage protection legislation, what would it be?
See above!
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If you could change one thing about current heritage protection legislation, what would it be?
Tricky one this. I’ve always had a problem with the concept of the ownership of heritage/culture/archaeology – call it what you will. I cannot understand how anyone can claim to ‘own’ what has lain beneath the surface for 1000 years, or 100,000 years. I think in the case of archaeological remains that Property really is Theft, you cannot claim to own the remains of other people’s lives. I would (although I realise that it would undermine to whole basis of the capitalist system and is therefore not going to happen) remove the land and all that lies beneath from private ownership and make it commonwealth.
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If you could change one thing about current heritage protection legislation, what would it be?
To make it a legal requirement that all archaeological remains threatened by development should be investigated and recorded appropriately at the cost of the developer.
12/04/2012 at 12:12
heritageaction
Well observed! And if I could summarise the remarks you’ve collated it would be to the effect that everyone is saying what they instinctively feel is morally or ethically right but money and power are ignoring them!
25/03/2013 at 17:33
John R. Singles.
I met Raksha Dave as a very young girl when she was living with her family in Redditch. Her father, Nick Dave, was a well respected member of my Social Work team in the Redditch Office of the Hereford and Worcester Social Services Department. I send my congratulations to Raksha and my regards to her father, whom I have not seen since 1978. I am well retired now and have been living with cancer for over six years, so this may be the last time I may try to contact my old colleague, Nick. What is wonderful is that Raksha has made good and is carrying on the family name with distinction. Well done, Raksha and good luck for the future.
John Singles.
30/04/2013 at 16:46
Raksha Dave
Dear John Singles,
Thank you for your comments unfortunately I am not the Raksha Dave that you talk about above. I’m actually a Lancashire lass born and bred and moved to London to study archaeology in the 90s.
I’m sorry to hear about your illness and hope that you can get in touch with your old colleague through other means. I’m sorry if you have confused me with another family of Daves – what can I say great surname eh??
Good luck for the future
Raksha