A University of Southampton academic has been awarded one of the highest honours available to early career scholars in anthropology and archaeology by the Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI). 

Dr Anna Collar, Associate Professor of Archaeology, has been selected to receive the RAI’s Curl Lectureship for 2027. Awarded every two years, the lectureship recognises an early-career scholar who has shown exceptional promise and invites them to deliver a public lecture. 

The award places Anna among an impressive group of previous recipients, highlighting the significance of her contribution to archaeological research. 

Anna’s research focuses on the archaeology of religious practice in the Roman world, exploring pilgrimage, sacred landscapes and the natural world, mobility, place-making, emotion and social networks.  

Reflecting on the award, Anna (pictured left) said: “It was a complete surprise when I opened the email with this news, and a huge honour to have been awarded the Royal Anthropological Institute’s Curl Lectureship. I’m humbled to have been chosen to deliver the Curl Lecture in 2027, and deeply grateful to those who supported my nomination.” 

Professor Alison Gascoigne, Head of Archaeology at the University of Southampton, congratulated Anna on the award: “This is an amazing achievement for Anna, and so well deserved. 

“A browse through the list of previous Curl Lectureship holders will make immediately clear the quality of the company she is keeping.” 

Anna will deliver the Curl Lecture in 2027, with further details to be announced in due course. 

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