Biography

I was appointed a Lecturer in Early Medieval Archaeology at Bangor in 1979 and became Professor of Medieval Archaeology in 2008. I retired in December 2020 and am now Emeritus Professor of Medieval Archaeology. I continue to supervise some research students.

I am a Fellow of the British Academy, a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. I am also an Honorary Professor at Cardiff University and the University of Durham.

I completed my BA in Archaeology, Ancient and Medieval History at Liverpool University in 1976. I then moved to the University of Durham where I gained a PhD in Archaeology. My thesis examined early medieval sculpture in the Irish Midlands.

Research

My research is multidisciplinary embracing Archaeology, History and Art History. I am particularly interested in early medieval Wales c. AD 400–1100. I also have a continuing interest in early medieval Ireland and Scotland as well as aspects of the history of archaeology.

My book, Life in Early Medieval Wales (funded by a Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship) was published by Oxford University Press in 2023.

Much of my research continues to focus on early medieval inscribed stones and stone sculpture in Wales. I am interested not only in the monuments themselves but also in their landscape contexts and what they can tell us about the early medieval society, identity, the Church, patronage and wealth. I have published two volumes of A Corpus of Early Medieval Inscribed Stones and Stone Sculpture in Wales, Volume II, South-West Wales (2007); Volume III, North Wales (2013).

I am currently working, with Gary Robinson (Bangor University) and Howard Williams (University of Chester), on a biography of the ninth-century Pillar of Eliseg. I have also become interested in early medieval graffiti as part of my research on the sculptural assemblage from St Patrick’s Chapel, near St Davids.

Areas of Teaching & Supervision

2023

  • PublishedCharles Thomas
    Edwards, N., 22 Dec 2023, Biographical memoirs of Fellows of the British Academy, 21, p. 445-465 20 p.
    Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article
  • PublishedLife in Early Medieval Wales
    Edwards, N., 22 Aug 2023, Oxford: Oxford University Press. 511 p.
    Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review

2022

2020

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

  • PublishedCeltic Crosses.
    Edwards, N. M., Edwards, N. & Koch, J. T. (Editor), 1 Jan 2006, Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. 2006 ed. ABC-CLIO Ltd
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
  • PublishedProtecting carved stones in Scotland and Wales
    Edwards, N. M. & Hall, M. A., 1 Jan 2006, In: Church Archaeology. 7-9, p. 127-129
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • PublishedThe early medieval sculpture of Bangor Fawr yn Arfon.
    Edwards, N., 1 Jan 2006, The Modern Traveller to Our Past: Papers in Honour of Ann Hamlin. Meck, M. (ed.). 2006 ed. DPK, p. 105-111
    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

2005

2002

2001