Field Director (MOWAA Archaeology Project) at Edo Museum of West African Arts Limited / Gte – Edo and Lagos

Job Overview

• The Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) is carrying out pre-construction archaeology and research investigations in the centre of Benin City in the context of the development of its new Creative District. This falls within the historic core of the pre-colonial city, the capital of the Benin Kingdom and one of the most important Heritage sites in West Africa. MOWAA is looking for a Field Director, who will work with colleagues from the National Commission of Museums and Monuments (NCMM), British Museum (BM), Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) and Wessex Archaeology (WA) to undertake one of the largest programmes of excavation carried out in the region in recent years.
• We are looking for an experienced field archaeologist to support the second phase of the archaeological programme on the ground in Benin City. The appointee will lead MOWAA’s team of young and dynamic Nigerian archaeologists in carrying out field archaeological investigations in Benin City. They will be present on-site in Benin City throughout the coming field investigations, taking place in late 2023 and 2024. Thereafter the appointee will play a leading role in co-ordinating the analysis, writing up and publication of the results of the excavations to be completed by the end of 2025. They will work closely in particular with the MOWAA Research Lead, NCMM’s Head of Archaeology, the Research co-Lead and Lead Archaeologist from the British Museum, and Cambridge Archaeology Unit’s Lead Archaeologist.

Key Responsibilities
Excavation Methodology & Research:

• Develop clear and detailed method statements covering logistics, excavation methodology, finds recovery, environmental sampling, post-excavation analysis, reporting and publication;
• Oversee implementation of the project fieldwork for the MOWAA-British Museum excavations;
• Develop material and environmental research programmes working with specialists;
• Support the development of project research goals

Excavation Management:

• Working in close collaboration with the BM team and NCMM representatives, manage the implementation of method statements;
• Lead the MOWAA archaeological team, working in close collaboration with BM colleagues and other partners, in ensuring that all members of the team are clear about their roles and objectives over the period of the excavation and on a day-by-day basis;
• Liaise on-site with the MOWAA construction manager and contractor representatives to ensure that there is mutual understanding of the archaeological programme and operations;
• Support ensuring the safe management of excavations in deeply stratified urban contexts, ensuring compliance with health and safety and security standards and procedures at all times;
• Ensure that finds are collected in line with project standards and processes;