Your work at dating mottes in Britain is really important. At Skipsea you date the motte as an Iron Age mound, and Marlborough you see as Neolithic. Such huge mounds are unknown in Britain, but you base your interpretation on absolute dating, not typology. As far as I understand, you took a core drill through the mound and collected organic material for radiocarbon. How do you know you managed to date the time of construction? Does this method not just give a TPQ, so how does it exclude a medieval date of construction?

Archaeobotany and archaeozoology have made a big difference in food history in recent decades. What effects do they have in archaeology on the ground, as it were?

I recently learned of "America's Stonehenge" and how it was supposedly manipulated by owners for commerical viability. Is there any example of a site today that was manipulated in such a way yet remains popular or popularly accepted as fact?

(The British Historical Society or some similar organization manipulated actual Stonehenge too, by rearranging stones, right?)

What is your biggest challenge in working with students and/or the public? What is your biggest reward?

What first developed your interest in archeology?

Dr Jim, it may be an odd question, but is there a way for an older person from the US (say in their early 40s) without any experience in archaeology but a deep fascination with this subject to volunteer in a medieval or iron age field study in Europe? Do people do that? Would it be awkward if a person tried to do it? Would it be reasonably easy to organize it logistically? Or would one have to know people to make it happen?

As a dentist I'm fascinated by the use of isotopes in tooth enamel to track migration patterns of ancient peoples. Have you used this in your research? And is there a cutoff point (in terms of how far back or how recent in history) to how useful this data is?

I am a classical Archaeology grad- specializing in late Roman. I have recently switched to GIS, what sort of work should I expect in the archaeological field with my newest certification?

Hello Dr. Jim I took your course on futureLearn I already graduated with a Bachelors degree in Archaeology and would like to gain some experience by working before heading toward the PhD. However I feel a tad lost as to what my next step should be? what do you recommend I start with?

When reading up on the medieval history of regions outside western Europe, I noticed that when historians lacked written sources, they turned to archaeology. So I'm wondering how much can be learned from archaeology alone. Do you think it is set in stone, or will it constantly expand with better technology and more excavations?

Hi Jim, will you be doing any digs in Ireland or are there any archaeological sites in Ireland that you have already visited?

Tell us about interdisciplinary projects! Is there a need or interest in your field to recruit people with backgrounds from other sciences?

Like many of us here in Reddit, I am computer science grad student. So the cs/maths line of work would be particularly relevant, but all possibilities are interesting.

1. Graham Hancock suggested in Underworld that quite a few major places were inundated after the last ice age which passed into folklore. Without necessarily subscribing to everything he says, do you think it's likely that there are some major cities/civilized areas offshore around Britain (and if so, where you would suggest they would be?)

2. What is it really like working with Tim? (Hi Tim!)

Are there any archaeological remains related to Irish settlement in Britain you are familiar with?

Of topic But I'm look for a way to find Archaeology lectures in Pittsburgh Pa. Any advice on how I can find some? Thank you

I have a Bachelors in Engineering and I want to get into Archeology. How do I even get into the field? I want to be out there adding to the history books of civilization!

Have you worked on the Silchester project and if so do you believe it is undervalued as a historic site compared to others?

This is a really simple question, but what was your most memorable event during a field school?

What has your educational background been like - was it a very clear cut path you took to get into your field or did you stumble upon it more by chance? Congrats on the recent discovery, fascinating find!

I'm a A level student with hopes of eventually becoming an archaeologist, are there any tips you would give to a young person on how to advance further with this profession?

Why did you decide to teach? I'm interested in doing a history degree and would like to know if teaching would be something that interests me

When reading up on the medieval history of regions outside western Europe, I noticed that when historians lacked written sources, they turned to archaeology. So I'm wondering how much can be learned from archaeology alone. Do you think it is set in stone, or will it constantly expand with better technology and more excavations?

Have you ever done a dig near historic towns like Dunstable, Houghton Regis, St Albans etc.

Dear Dr. Leary, I have taken the online course you led a couple months ago. It is awesome. I actually am applying an archaeology MA. I hold an irrelevant bachelor in English (which makes it difficult to get into any archaeology master), and have been thinking if MA in Public Archaeology or MA in Archaeology would offer a bigger scope of work opportunities after graduation. Both are thought to be interesting but I am slightly more into Public archaeology at this moment as I worked in museums before, as the course content seems more understandable. However, since I do not want to throw away the possibility to pursue a PhD yet, it is thought that I should choose a right MA course now which would not narrow the study scope. Would MA Archaeology be a better option since I did not receive any formal education training on archaeology and thus, would a general MA Archaeology offer a better exposure? Also, public archaeology is a rather new field, it is not sure how the future path would be, if studying this subject?

Also, if I am a bit scared to excavate bones (so far no field experience yet), would it mean it is not ideal for me to be an archaeologist, so public archaeology would be more suitable? Did your students experience discomfort when excavating bones and if so how do they cope with this?

Plus, I am considering to go to England in 2017 Sept to study (probably London or York). Would be much appreciated, if you could recommend a few places where I should look up as to signing up archaeological field trips? What kind of field trips (any historical period) could be more interesting and beneficial? Many thanks in advance!

What significant new discovers have you found/ believe you will find/ hope to find in the castle and digs, if any?

Do you have an estimate on peak population of original inhabitants of the Americas, continent wide? I've heard estimates from 20-80 million. I ask because based on natural resources, limited social system information, and very limited Aboriginal European written accounts, I have my own estimate, but is there archeological evidence that is suggestive to you of a population range?

Any advise for a recent Socio/ Cultural graduate (Bach of Arts 2015) for finding employment? Trying to go back to school in the next 1-2 years, and currently working at a corporate bank (hating it).

How did you happen to start on the path of becoming an archeologist? I want to become one as well but I'm still not sure how it all works out.

I'm an American archaeology student who's interested in European (especially Roman) archaeology. Do you think I'd have an advantage studying in the UK? How would I go about getting in?

I don't know if you'll get this now but I'm interested in pottery of the Beaker peoples, particularly in attempting to recreate it as authentically as possible. I don't suppose you'd know of a book with information that would help to that end.

A visit to Stonehenge piqued my interest and a subsequent talk with Society for Creative Anachronism members set me going on it again. Primarily I'm after details of the technicalities of their process - did they coil, use posts, make ground moulds, etc.; did they make specific fires or just use cooking fires, how careful were they in clay selection; were there family designs, or location based designs, did they use any slips or glazes, diff they burnish with tools.

So, any suggestions please, or a referral to an expert that I could ask?

Hi! Thank you for doing an AMA.

How often, if ever, do you use ground penetrating radar in conjunction with your research? If you do, can you tell me about something particularly interesting it has revealed?