Director of Access Cambridge Archaeology, Carenza Lewis has been shortlisted for the Marsh Archaeology Award 2009.

The award recognises and promotes high quality and engaging educational work carried out in the UK with people under the age of 18.

The main areas of focus for the award include conservation, science, the arts, heritage, literature and volunteering.

The Council for British Archaeology have announced the shortlist of six influential individuals who they believe have all added to the future of archaeology.

The award will be judged by Brian Marsh OBE and will be decided on three main criteria; contribution to passing on archaeological knowledge and understanding about cultural heritage to young people in the past two years, the level of engagement in different educational contexts and the commitment shown to educational work in archaeology over and above any formal work carried out.

Carenza studied Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge before working as an archaeological investigator for the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England.

In 1993, she was approached by Channel 4’s ‘Time Team’ and asked to be a part of the programme that travels the country to investigate archaeological sites of historical importance. After 15 years, Carenza left the show to come and work for the University from which she graduated.

At Cambridge, she has combined lectures in archaeology with the formation of an outreach programme involving thousands of people every year, and which includes the hugely successful ‘Higher Education Field Academy’.

The aim of the academy is to raise the academic aspirations and achievements of young people via active, individual involvement.

The academy which is run as part of the university’s widening participation programme now involves more than 500 teenagers (14–15 years old) a year, giving young people the chance to take part in hands-on excavation of archaeological test pits. Their discoveries make an important contribution to University research.

Carenza said: ‘I'm delighted that my work since leaving Time Team has been honoured in this way: many people think that nothing could be better than being on TV, but for me, being shortlisted for such an important award' which recognises the work I've put in over the last few years into using archaeology's unique combination of excitement and accessibility to inspire and genuinely raise young people's educational aspirations, is absolutely wonderful.’

Access Cambridge Archaeology also offers ‘Discovery Day Workshops’ which offer younger children the chance to take part in various activities and learn more about archaeology and Cambridge University.

For more information on the award please use the link, top right of this page.

The winner of the award will be announced later this year.

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