06/10/2025
Many of you will by now have heard the incredibly sad news that our Projects Manager, Dr Andy Jones, passed away a couple of weeks ago following a short illness. His death is a profound loss to his friends and colleagues at CAU, to the Cornwall Archaeological Society, and to the wider archaeological community—not only in Cornwall, but across the UK.
Andy was a widely published prehistorian who made an exceptional contribution to the advancement of archaeological knowledge across many fields.
He joined CAU in 1992 as an archaeologist and rose to the role of Principal Archaeologist by 2011. His early work focused on developer-funded projects, with significant sites including the Stannon Down Bronze Age cairn group, the prehistoric to Roman landscape at Scarcewater Tip, the Camelford School Iron Age settlement and ceremonial complex, and the Beaker metalworking site at Sennen. In later years, his focus shifted to research-led projects such as the Clodgy Moor Neolithic axe production site, the North Cliffs Mesolithic flint scatter, the submergence of Mount’s Bay in prehistory, and the internationally significant Whitehorse Hill cist on Dartmoor. He also authored major multi-site volumes, including monographs on Cornish barrows and prehistoric settlement in Cornwall.
Andy’s passion for archaeology extended well beyond his professional role. He earned his PhD in 2005 on Cornish Bronze Age landscapes and pursued independent research on topics such as the dating of Bronze Age daggers in southwest Britain and the Early Bronze Age log coffin tradition. He also contributed to key studies on prehistoric tinworking in Cornwall and the presence of Cornish tin in Mediterranean bronzes.
He led research projects for the Cornwall Archaeological Society, including excavations at Hay Close, Newlyn East, Carn Galver, and Bosiliack. A respected speaker, he lectured widely and presented at numerous national conferences. He also contributed to the South West Archaeological Research Framework and the Scilly Historic Environment Research Framework.
Andy was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, a Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, and a committee member of the South West Implement Petrology Group. He also served on the councils of the Royal Archaeological Institute and the Prehistoric Society.
Despite his extraordinary professional achievements, Andy was above all a devoted family man. Our thoughts are with his wife, Anna, and their children, Freya and Oscar, at this incredibly difficult time.
