Emma Boast MA

Experience

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  York Archaeological Trust

  Feb 2010 - Oct 2020

  I provided an educational, interpretive and immersive experience for all members of the public visiting the Jorvik Viking Centre. I provided talks and assisted with queries from the public and academic's alike.As part of my Educational Team duties running workshops I would assist with compiling workshop training and suggest new ways to make the workshops more engaging. In 2012 to 2013, 1 day a week, I worked in the Exhibitions, Events and Education Team on the Interpretive side, to create exhibits such as Valhalla, and research and write information boards for further exhibits. Providing research material and assistance on Viking themed projects. Show less

  • Project Archaeologist

    Jun 2017 - Oct 2020

  • Archaeological Site Assistant

    Apr 2015 - Jun 2017

  • Front of House / Education Assistant Jorvik Viking Centre

    Feb 2010 - Apr 2015
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  Aelfshot Historical Archery

  Jan 2011 - Dec 2014

  Co-Founder Historical Archery Instructor

  Three like minded colleagues from a mutual workplace decided to pull together our passion for reenactment and teaching and combine it with Historical Archery. With a combined experience of 25years in historical archery and Viking/Medieval reenactment. We setup a business to provide historical have-a-go archery, as well as using our specialist skills for displays and reenactment events .Unfortunately life took the three of us in different directions, but I continue to advise on historical displays for accuracy and content, due to my martial arts and theatrical training, as well as 15years in reenactment. Show less

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  Nidavellnir Nalbinding

  Oct 2013 - now

  I have been asked frequently to be involved and Consult on various Viking related projects over the years. So now I offer my services as an Independent Viking-Age researcher, historical accuracy specialist, liaison between heritage centers, the media and re-enactors. I have also worked with museums and small exhibits to create information boards and displays, as well as running Viking events both nationally and internationally. Nidavellnir Nalbinding handcrafts Viking-Age nalbound items from rarebreed yarn such as Shetland, Icelandic, Manx Loaghtan and Boreray yarn. Nidavellnir is the UK's first Mastercraftsman purely dedicated to Nalbinding as a heritage craft.

  • Early Medieval (Viking Age) Archaeological/Heritage Consultant/Independent Researcher.

    Aug 2016 - now

  • Nalbinding Master Craftsman at Nidavellnir Nalbinding

    Oct 2013 - now
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  Department for Education

  Mar 2021 - Mar 2024

  Peer Reviewer
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  FABRICATION CRAFTS LTD

  Apr 2021 - Nov 2021

  Craftsman

  Nidavellnir now has an in-store presence, selling historical handmade nalbound items in 24 Coney Street, York, at the Fabrication Shop!

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  University of York

  Jul 2022 - now

  I am please to state that I am now a permanent technical member of staff at the Department of Archaeology, York University. Overseeing the processing of multiple large finds archival material, legacy archives, consolidation of finds archives, the repatriation of material to local museums, for both research and commercial projects. As well as providing support to the Department in giving guidance and advice regarding curatorial care of different finds groups and assisting with finds assessment reporting as a Finds Specialist, and liasing with other Specialists clients. This includes writing Small Finds Assessment reports, tabulating and quantifying bulk finds material, as well as preparing finished sites for appropriate Finds Archival storage. Early medieval finds specialist in metalworking objects and the organic textile craft of Nalbinding. With experience of urban and rural British archaeological material from the Mesolithic to Modern periods. Show less A Full time post for a Year with the Department of Archaeology at the University of York to oversee the processing of multiple large finds archival material, and to repatriate material to local museums, for both research and commercial projects. To support the Department in giving guidance and advice regarding curatorial care of different finds groups and assist with finds assessment reporting as a Finds Specialist. This includes writing Small Finds Assessment reports, tabulating and quantifying bulk finds material as well as preparing finished sites for appropriate Finds Archival storage. Early medieval finds specialist in metalworking objects and the organic textile craft of Nalbinding. Show less A casual office contract, on/off as projects allow, assisting the Department of Archaeology at Kings Manor with various tasks to process and organise some archaeological finds archives.This particular project, the Finds Archive is extensive and requires the collation, sorting and preparation of multiple phases of work. August - preparing the Heslington East archaeological finds archive for submission to the local Museum. Organising and overseeing the project on behalf of the Project Manager and Museum Curator to get the finds prepared in a fashion for deposition, making sure it all adheres to to correct guidance. Tasks include re-bagging, re-labeling, packing finds appropriately based on material groupings, checking archive data and info is correctly applied, consistently unifying the complete finds archive and creating relevant submission documents such as box lists and Master Finds indexes for the Museum Submission. As well as liasing with other Finds Specialists and Archaeological units to acquire material back into the care of the Department of Archaeology. Managed by Steve Roskams, I'm highly skilled in this work having worked very closely with the Finds/Collection/Archives Team for YAT (York Archaeological Trust) from 2015-2020. I am proficient at taking the lead on certain projects and will happily take point to liase with project managers and other heritage specialists to achieve project goals relating to the appropriate preparation and care of the Archaeological Finds Archive. Archaeological Finds Archives are a massive legacy resulting from the archaeological excavations that get undertaken. They need to be prepared correctly based on Local Museum guidance and Curator preferences. Show less A casual office/temporary work contract, on/off as projects allow, assisting the Department of Archaeology at Kings Manor with various tasks to process and organise some archaeological finds and their archives. July - finds washing, bagging, re-labeling, adding to databases, checking archive data, re-organising archaeological site archives for submission to Museums, and assisting Dr.Jess Bates prepare the Flixton Flint Archive for submission to the local museum. I'm highly skilled in this work having worked very closely with the Finds/Collection/Archives Team for YAT from 2015-2020. I am good at working under direction, as well as independently. I'm incredibly competent at organising archaeological finds and archives for in-house collections. I am also competent in sorting, labeling and packaging human remains for inclusion into archives, as well as undertaking post-ex, digitisation and illustration tasks and liasing with relevant team members.It's also nice to be back at Kings Manor. Show less

  • Archaeological Finds and Archives Technician

    May 2024 - now

  • Archaeological Finds and Archives Technician

    Sept 2023 - May 2024

  • Archaeological Archives and Finds Officer

    Mar 2023 - Sept 2023

  • Associate Archaeological Finds Archive and Collections Manager

    Aug 2022 - Mar 2023

  • Archaeological Finds Processing/Archive Assistant

    Jul 2022 - Aug 2022