Ricky Menzies - Researcher & Writer
Standing starry-eyed with my uncle in front of the relief of a Rhodian ship cut into the wall of the Acropolis at Rhodes in Greece at the age of 10. That was my first memory of hearing the term ‘archaeology’. I wouldn’t have been able to spell it, but it was in those moments I realised that’s what I wanted to do with my life.
Educationally I was very much a late bloomer. Being a little reprobate through my teenage years I had to retake secondary school and A Levels in my early 20s to be able to even come close to a university. Fortunately, with a slightly more level head, a goal in mind and a light dusting of luck, I managed not only to finish my GCSEs and A Levels, but exceed.
After some time away, living in Newfoundland, Canada, and walking from Lands End to John O’Groats (and beyond) I finally began following my dream of studying archaeology. I chose Cardiff University for its integrated year abroad program and began my bachelors degree in Ancient History and Archaeology in the autumn of 2018.
In my second year, I chose to study at the University of Oslo for my year abroad, taking the opportunity to try new things. This is what led me to discover the fascinating world of the Vikings. I took a class in Runology, and visited every museum that had anything to do with the medieval Norse. It was during this year I travelled much of Scandinavia, including Sweden, Denmark and Finland.
In a strange twist of fate, the Covid-19 Pandemic hit the globe and ended up causing me to take another year abroad, this time in Finland. With all classes being taught remotely, I was able to explore a whole new country and its fascinating history. The North had me.
Upon finally returning to Wales to complete my studies, I stumbled upon a job as a Travel Writer. This afforded me even more opportunities to travel far and wide throughout the UK and Europe.
After finishing my dissertation on Pirates of the Mediterranean; Piracy as a Political and Economic Strategy in the Hellenistic World and graduating in 2022, I landed a job as a trainee archaeologist at Cotswold Archaeology. This is where I really learned my discipline. Between this I was offered the opportunity to volunteer as an archaeologist at the South Asasif Conservation Project in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt and at the Sasanian Fort Project in Fulayj, Oman. Within 6 months I was promoted from trainee to the grade of archaeologist and with that achieved my childhood dream.
In August 2024, I boarded a ship at Hirtshals in Denmark to Iceland. Here, I will study at the Reykjavik University on the two year MA program, Viking and Medieval Norse Studies.
