I worked with Arnold for over 20 years, in fact he was the reason I went to Bradford in the first place. I joined the University staff late in 1974 as a raw young lecturer and he guided me through the first year or so until I gained my feet, pointed out what was what, who was who, who was to be trusted, and who was to be avoided. He advised me on which students were idiots and which were going places. I think it’s fair to say that between us we had a pretty good track record of getting it right.
Continue readingBradford and Sheffield
Like the other contributors I remember Arnold as a kind and interested scholar who had a major impact of 20th century archaeology in Britain partly through his own work, but especially though the work of those many students he taught and inspired. Bradford is, I think, the only archaeology department in the world which had its origin in a department of Physics. During the late 1960s to the mid-1980s Sheffield and Bradford developed in a parallel and complementary way with Sheffield concentrating on environmental, economic and theoretical approaches, and Bradford on the pure sciences.
Continue readingArnold Aspinall & John Crummett undertaking an EM survey at Towton Hall using a specially adapted twin coiled metal detector (pre-logger)
Towton Battlefield Archaeology Project
Continue readingObituary for Arnold Aspinall: educator, inspirer and friend
My obituary for Arnold has been published in ISAPNews number 35 and can be accessed from this link.
Continue readingAn inspiration to many
I first met Arnold in 2001 or 2002 when undertaking the MSc Archaeological Prospection course. I remember we were surveying in his back garden with the Pulseekko 1000. At some point, when it came to choosing dissertation topics I must have expressed some kind of interest in earth resistance survey because I ended up working closely with Arnold on a project about the square array. Once my disseratation was done, he was of course insistent that we should publish the work, while I dragged my feet! Over 10 years later, I still get quite excited about the square array and
Continue readingTo Arnold, from France
I was very sad when Roger Walker announce(d) Arnold's death to me by mail. I understood how important these news were specially for the "people of Bradford" but also for all the archaeological community. I know from Roger that "many old faces from the past" had come to pay their respect to Arnold on the 23rd of April. From the other side of the channel, Bradford and his leader Arnold are seen as the "Mecca" of archaeological geophysics.
Continue readingThanks from the family
Jane and Lynn Aspinall would like to thank you all for your contributions on this page, as well as the many personal letters that you have sent us.
We are very proud of our modest dad; he was oblivious to the effect that he had had on so many people's lives. We have enjoyed sharing your memories of him and are deeply moved by your expressions of admiration and, most of all, affection for him.
His passing has left a gaping hole in all our lives; you are all his legacy.
Kind regards
Continue readingPersonal tribute to a very dear friend of 40 years
Arnold and I were members of an evening class in medieval archaeology in the late 1960s. From that date, my wife Ann and I became good friends of Arnold and Priscilla, his devoted and so supportive wife. In the late 1970s Arnold, Gordon, and Stanley coerced me into teaching osteology and Palaeopathology to undergraduates in Archaeological Sciences. From small beginnings, the subject soon became a compulsory component of the degree curriculum.
Continue readingArnold Aspinall
I am very saddened to announce that Arnold Aspinall has died aged 87.
Continue readingArnold
I recall my first interview with him when I arrived to the department of archaeological sciences office in 1987. He had assumed my arrival would be another day. Immediately after we met, he rushed to arrange my stay for the day and whole staying term.
Continue reading