Emma Boast
Archaeological Finds and Archives Technician
Profile
Biography
Emma is the Finds and Archive Technician for the Department of Archaeology. She provides teaching support relating to archaeological finds, care and curation, as well as offering specialist finds and archiving advice within the Department. She teaches on the undergraduate ‘Discovering Archaeology’ and ‘Post-Excavation’ modules. She also helps to deliver the postgraduate ‘Curated Placement’ as part of the MA in Field Archaeology, as well as the Finds and Archives Internships. She helps to facilitate the smooth running of K/G62 as an active Finds and Post-excavation Lab. As well as helping to facilitate students, staff and researchers with their requests.
Career
Emma has a Ba in Archaeology and Landscape History from Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge. Her dissertation was titled, ‘The Role of the Viking Shield in Society’. Which included an assessment of all current HER data for England relating to the surviving archaeological elements of this artefact, including its components and fittings.
Following this, she undertook a MA in Medieval Archaeology at the University of York. Her dissertation was titled, ‘The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man’. She assessed an assortment of assemblages relating to the deposition of Viking Age shield components and remains, mostly focusing on burial contexts, as well as singular find depositions. This material was then compared to the material culture found for this period in Scandinavia, to help highlight similar forms and trends within the material culture for this artefact type.
Before taking her current position Emma had spent many years as an independent Viking Age consultant and heritage crafter, recreating Viking Age textiles out of Nalbinding, an early fibre craft that predates knitting. Emma is now the UK’s leading Nalbinding Master Craftsman in this ancient craft and has created educational resources to teach this craft from an archaeological perspective. In 2018 Emma successfully managed to list Nalbinding as an Endangered Heritage Craft in the UK, with the Heritage Craft Association, further ensuring not only its further dissemination as a practical heritage skill, but also as a means to engage with further research opportunities from a Finds Specialist perspective.
Previous work in archaeology includes working for the commercial archaeological branch of York Archaeological Trust, as a Project Archaeologist for 5 years, helping to deliver archaeological watching briefs, evaluations and excavations in the historic city of York and further afield. Opportunities within this role enabled learning across multiple departments, with time spent assisting with finds processing, curation and care of objects; as well as taking on added responsibilities for post-excavation tasks, such as reporting writing, illustration, finds reporting, paper archiving and museum submission preparation.
Prior to this Emma spent 5 years in Heritage Education with the Jorvik Viking Centre, developing and delivering educational workshops and exhibits for KS2/KS3, as well as specialist tour groups and educational events.
Teaching
Undergraduate
- Discovering Archaeology, Post Excavation Modules
Postgraduate
- MA in Field Archaeology, Curated Placement Module
Other teaching
Assists the University of York Archaeological Society with facilitating their Finds washing days. Actively creating volunteer opportunities for students to engage with volunteer finds, sorting and washing to gain experience. Developing Finds and Curatorial Internships.
External activities
Memberships
- Member of EXARC International
- Member of Heritage Craft Association UK
- Member of the Guild of Master Craftsman
- Member of the Finds Research Group
- Nalbinding Master Craftsman at Nidavellnir Nalbinding
Editorial duties
Boast, E. 2020. Book Review: With One Needle: How to Nålbind by Mervi Pasanen. EXARC Journal Issue 2020/3.
Boast, E. 2019. An Archaeological Desk-based Assessment at 22-26 Blossom Street, York. York Archaeological Trust. Grey Literature Report.
Boast, E. 2019. A Desk-Based Assessment Former Dental Lab, 11 The Crescent, York. York Archaeological Trust. Grey Literature Report.
Boast, E. 2019. An Archaeological Evaluation at St George's Field Car Park, York. York Archaeological Trust. Grey Literature Report.
Boast, E., Jackson-Slater, C. 2019. Desk Based Assessment and Borehole Monitoring Report for Former BHS store, 44 Coney Street/11-13 Feasegate, York. York Archaeological Trust. Grey Literature Report.
Baillie, B., Boast, E. 2019. The Fall of Eoforwic: Ivar the Boneless and the Capture of York .Hugin and Munin Magazine. Destination Viking.
Boast, E. 2018. An Archaeological Watching Brief at Chapter House Street,York. York Archaeological Trust. Grey Literature Report.
Boast, E. 2018. An Archaeological Evaluation: Interim Report at 27 St Helens Road, Regency Mews, York. York Archaeological Trust. Grey Literature Report.
Boast, E. 2018. Desk-Based Assessment at Frederick House, Fulford Road, York York. Archaeological Trust. Grey Literature Report.
Baillie, B., Boast, E. 2018. Frostbite: Keeping warm in the Viking Age. Hugin and Munin Magazine. Destination Viking.
Boast, E., Loffman, G. 2018. 'Whale Bone Assessment by Emma Boast MA', in Archaeological Investigations at Gypsy Race, Bridlington a Watching Brief. York Archaeological Trust. Finds Report.
Boast, E., Johnson, A. 2018. An Archaeological Watching Brief at St. Mary's Church, Castlegate, York. York Archaeological Trust. Grey Literature Report.
Boast, E. 2018. Nalbinding for Beginners. Blurb.
Boast, E. 2017. Stonebow House, York. Watching Brief. York Archaeological Trust. Grey Literature Report.
Boast, E. 2017. Cliffords Tower and Bar Walls Lighting. Watching Brief. York Archaeological Trust. Grey Literature Report.
Boast, E. 2017. Museum Street (Bus stop), York. Watching Brief. York Archaeological Trust. Grey Literature Report.
Boast, E. 2017. The Viking Shield: Myth and Meaning. Medieval Studies Magazine. Medievalist.net
Boast, E., Rimmer, J. 2016. 14 Lendal, York Building report and Watching brief. York Archaeological Trust. Grey Literature Report.
Boast, E. 2012. The Viking Shield in the British Isles: changes in use from the 8th-11th Century in England and the Isle of Man. MA Thesis. University of York.
Boast, E. 2009. The Role of the Viking Shield in Society. BA Thesis. Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge.
Invited talks and conferences
Boast, E. 2024. Crafts in the UK Series: Heritage Craft Association.
Nalbinding: An Ancient Endangered Heritage Craft. Northern England Member. Online Presentation for HCA members. 10/01/2024.
Boast, E. 2023. Nalbinding: An Ancient Endangered Heritage Craft. Guest Lecture for the Northern Society of Costume Research. Presented in-person, public lecture in York. 30/09/2023.
Boast, E. 2021. Viking Age Nalbinding: The Archaeological Evidence 8th-11th Century. Free Online Lecture. YouTube. 08/03/2021
Boast, E. 2019. Nalbinding as an Endangered Heritage Craft. Early Textiles Study Group – 16th Conference. FIBRES in Early Textiles University of Glasgow. Poster Presentations. 07/07/2019.
Boast, E. 2018. 'Nalbinding: Protecting an Endangered Heritage Craft' by Emma Boast MA, in ReConference 2018 PAPERS AND SUMMARIES, Hands on History Conference, Copenhagen, 2018.
Media coverage
https://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/about/news/2019/nalbinding/