One of York Archaeology’s longest standing members of its archaeology team, Jane McComish, is set to retire from the organisation after over 40 years working on some of the region’s most important digs. Jane McComish first joined the fieldwork archaeology team on contracts in 1982, before later joining the team full time, and retires later this month.
Jane is a specialist in ceramic building materials – particularly bricks and tiles – from the Roman period onwards. Some of her early digs included the Jewbury excavations and York’s Tanner Row. She also investigated the Gilbertine Priory in Fishergate. She was also part of the team that discovered the 10th century skeletons in coffins, two of which are on display in JORVIK Viking Centre, at the long-lost church of St Benet’s.
Passionate about archaeology in general, Jane is particularly enthusiastic about churches and church architecture, becoming one of York Archaeology’s top experts on religious sites.
“Jane is truly one-of-a-kind, with an incredible knowledge built up over decades of fieldwork and study, making her one of York’s most respected archaeologists. Her contribution to York Archaeology’s work cannot be underestimated, and she is a font of knowledge about many different periods in York’s history. She will definitely be missed by the team here as she takes a well-earned retirement,” comments Dr Paul Flintoft, regional manager for York Archaeology.
