Steph Black

Steph Black is an archaeologist, historian, and digital creator successfully bridging the gap between academia and mainstream audiences.  

As a doctoral researcher at Durham University, she is also the face behind the hugely popular social media persona, Steph the Archaeologist, where she humanises the past. With a passion for dismantling the stuffy stereotypes of archaeology, Steph makes history accessible, engaging, and relevant for a new generation. 

Born and raised in Australia, Steph’s international fieldwork experience spans both commercial and academic excavations across Europe and the Middle East. This hands-on expertise informs her current academic research, which focuses on the often-overlooked world of Iron Age Oman. Her doctoral work investigates settlement patterns, trade routes, and social structures through the analysis of material culture, uncovering the complex societies that thrived in the region over 2,500 years ago. 

As a digital creator, Steph has developed a distinctive approach to using short-form video and social media to make archaeological and historical topics more accessible. Her ability to present complex ideas in engaging and digestible formats was formally recognised in 2024 when she was Highly Commended for the Public Dissemination or Presentation Award by the Council for British Archaeology, acknowledging her as a leader in modern heritage communication.