Dr Lucy Blue

Besides an interest in ports of trade, I also have extensive experience undertaking maritime ethnographical research both in the field primarily recording boats in their context in the Indian sub-continent

I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Manchester in Combined Studies and went on to graduate from the University of Oxford in 1996 with a DPhil in Maritime Archaeology.  My doctoral research focused upon the study of Bronze Age harbours and maritime routes of trade in the eastern Mediterranean. Since then I have extended my interest in port and harbour studies both chronologically and geographically co-directing research projects investigating the Greco-Roman harbours and lake-side settlements around the shores of Lake Mareotis, Alexandria (2004–2008; Leverhulme and British Academy funded), the Roman and later Islamic port site of Quseir al-Qadim on the Red Sea coast of Egypt (1999–2003), and the Roman port of Adulis, Eritrea (2004–2005; AHRC funded). Besides an interest in ports of trade, I also have extensive experience undertaking maritime ethnographical research both in the field primarily recording boats in their context in the Indian sub-continent and more recently logboats (huri) of the western Indian Ocean, and in museums.

Besides active research projects that have produced over fifty publications, I have worked on a number of other collaborative projects overseas. In 2006 I secured a European Union TEMPUS grant to set up the Centre for Maritime Archaeology and Underwater Cultural Heritage (CMAUCH) within the University of Alexandria, Egypt. In 2010 I established MAST the Maritime Archaeology Stewardship Trust which aims to promote maritime archaeology and coastal heritage management in the Arab world, currently specifically the Gulf region. Recent MAST initiatives have included the delivery of workshops, the development of collaborative research projects and helping advice ministries regarding the management of their maritime cultural heritage. In 2006 I was appointed an AHRC Peer Review College member and in April 2010 was upgraded to a panel member. I am a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a Vice President of the Nautical Archaeology Society and on the editorial board of two A rated International journals – Journal for Maritime Archaeology and the International Journal for Nautical Archaeology. I also worked as a presenter on the BBC/Discovery co-funded eight-part 'Oceans' series.  I currently work PT in Archaeology in order to develop MAST initiatives.