Peter John Reynolds (6 November 1939 – 26 September 2001) was a British

archaeologist Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...

known for his research in experimental archaeology and the British Iron Age. His work as the first director of

Butser Ancient Farm Butser Ancient Farm is an archaeological open-air museum and experimental archaeology site located near Petersfield, Hampshire, Petersfield in Hampshire, southern England. Butser features experimental reconstructions of prehistoric, Romano-Britis ...

, a working replica of an Iron Age farmstead in Hampshire, made a significant contribution to our understanding of the Iron Age, and to the field of experimental archaeology.

Early life

Reynolds was born on 6 November 1939 in Shifnal, Shropshire, England. He was educated at The Priory Grammar School for Boys, Shrewsbury. He read

Classics Classics or classical studies is the study of classical antiquity. In the Western world, classics traditionally refers to the study of Classical Greek and Roman literature and their related original languages, Ancient Greek and Latin. Classics ...

at Trinity College, Dublin, graduating in 1962 with a Double First. He then studied for a teaching diploma at Reading University.

Career

After completing his teaching diploma, Reynolds became the classics master at Prince Henry's Grammar School,

Evesham Evesham () is a market town and parish in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire, in the West Midlands region of England. It is located roughly equidistant between Worcester, Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon. It lies within the Vale of Evesha ...

. Here, he was also a Sixth Form tutor.

Butser Ancient Farm

In 1972, Reynolds was recruited as the first director of

, an experimental archaeology research site in Hampshire, southern England. The site began as a working Iron Age farm, reconstructing Iron Age roundhouses from UK archaeology to test current theories on Iron Age building techniques, as well as economy and culture. Reynolds' work at Butser established the current understanding of the roundhouse, showing that Iron Age roundhouses did not need a chimney or other hole for smoke to escape through, and disproving prevailing thought at the time. The projects at Butser were instrumental in establishing experimental archaeology as a legitimate archaeological discipline. In the 50 years since its establishment, hundreds of experiments have been conducted at Butser, covering a wide range of subjects including the construction of houses, the storage of grain, the keeping of livestock, and the production and use of ancient technologies. Today, the site includes buildings from the

Stone Age The Stone Age was a broad prehistoric period during which stone was widely used to make tools with an edge, a point, or a percussion surface. The period lasted for roughly 3.4 million years, and ended between 4,000 BC and 2,000 BC, with t ...

, Bronze Age, Iron Age, and

Saxon The Saxons ( la, Saxones, german: Sachsen, ang, Seaxan, osx, Sahson, nds, Sassen, nl, Saksen) were a group of Germanic * * * * peoples whose name was given in the early Middle Ages to a large country (Old Saxony, la, Saxonia) near the Nor ...

period, including a replica Roman villa, and continues to run experiments and educate the public. During his time at Butser, he also appeared on various episodes of the Channel 4 television series '' Time Team''. The 6th episode of Series 9, in which he appeared, is dedicated to him, as he died after filming but before it aired.

Personal life

Reynolds was twice married. He married Bridget in 1976. Together, they had a daughter, Jemma.

Publications

Reynolds was an innovative researcher, who made a major contribution to our understanding of Iron Age life. A full list of his publications can be found at th
Butser Archive

Books

* * * *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reynolds, Peter J English archaeologists 1939 births People from Shifnal 2001 deaths Alumni of Trinity College Dublin People educated at The Priory Boys' Grammar School, Shrewsbury