Martin Henig

Martin Henig
Name	Martin Henig
Occupation	Archaeologist, Academic, Author
Known for	Roman archaeology, Romano-British religion, Roman Britain metalwork
Alma mater	University of Oxford
Employer	University of Oxford

Martin Henig

Martin Henig is a British archaeologist and academic specializing in Romano-British archaeology, Roman religion, and ancient metallurgy. He served as a lecturer and curator associated with the University of Oxford and has published extensively on Roman Britain, Celtic art, and classical iconography. Henig's work intersects with studies of material culture, numismatics, and religious practice in the Roman Empire and the provinces.

Early life and education

Henig studied at the University of Oxford where he completed his undergraduate and graduate work in courses connected to the School of Archaeology and the Classics Faculty. He trained in archaeological field methods associated with the Institute of Archaeology and developed a grounding in artefact analysis linked to collections at the Ashmolean Museum, the British Museum, and the Museum of London. His early mentors included figures from the Society of Antiquaries of London, the Roman Society, and the network of provincial archaeologists across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Academic career

Henig held posts within the University of Oxford system, contributing to teaching in the Faculty of Classics and participating in museum curation at institutions like the Ashmolean Museum and the Hoover Institution collections (through collaborative projects). He engaged with professional bodies such as the Society of Antiquaries of London, the Council for British Archaeology, and the Royal Archaeological Institute. Henig collaborated with specialists from the British Museum, the National Trust, and the Historic England archive on excavations and provenance studies in regions including Southampton, Wessex, and the Cotswolds.

Research and contributions

Henig's research focuses on Romano-British religion, votive deposition, and the iconography of deities in provincial contexts, with comparative perspectives that draw on studies from Italy, Gaul, Hispania, Germania, and the Levant. He has analyzed material such as votive metalwork, statuettes, fibulae, and coins, engaging with specialists from the British Numismatic Society, the Royal Numismatic Society, and the Institute of Classical Studies. Henig has contributed to debates on syncretism involving Jupiter, Mercury, Celtic deities, Isis, and mystery cults, connecting evidence from sites like Bath, Lindum Colonia, Verulamium, Vindolanda, and Colchester. His methodological approaches combine typological study familiar to the Portable Antiquities Scheme context, provenance research used by the Manorial Documents Register, and iconographic analysis practiced in the Warburg Institute tradition.

Henig has also worked on Roman metalworking technology, collaborating with metallurgists at institutions such as the British Geological Survey, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Birmingham. He has contributed to conferences held by the European Association of Archaeologists, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, and the Association for Roman Archaeology.

Publications

Henig's books and articles address subjects including votive practices, deity cults, and Romano-British art. He has contributed chapters to volumes published by the Oxford University Press, the Cambridge University Press, and the British Museum Press, and articles in journals such as the Journal of Roman Studies, Britannia, and the Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society. His monographs synthesize archaeological evidence from provincial sites and museum collections including the Ashmolean Museum, the British Museum, the Royal Cornwall Museum, and regional museums across Devon, Cornwall, and Somerset. He has edited conference proceedings for meetings at venues like the British School at Rome, the Institute of Archaeology, Oxford, and the Institute of Classical Studies, London.

Honours and awards

Henig is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and has been recognized by learned bodies including the British Academy and the Royal Archaeological Institute. He has received research support from funders such as the Leverhulme Trust, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and the British Academy research grants, and has been invited to deliver named lectures at institutions including the British School at Rome, the Warburg Institute, and the Institute of Historical Research.

Personal life

Henig has participated in public outreach through partnerships with the Portable Antiquities Scheme, the Museum of London Archaeology Service, and local heritage groups in Oxfordshire and beyond. He has served on advisory committees for museum exhibitions at the Ashmolean Museum, the British Museum, and regional museums, and has been involved with voluntary archaeological societies such as the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies and county archaeological trusts across England.

Category:British archaeologists Category:Scholars of Roman Britain