[093] Renowned battlefield archaeologist brings story of bloody British fight to MTSU

MURFREESBORO — An internationally renowned battlefield archaeologist from the University of Glasgow will bring the story of the final bloody fight for the British monarchy to MTSU on Wednesday, Sept. 11, in a special free lecture in MTSU’s Student Union.

Dr. Tony Pollard, director of the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology and a senior lecturer in the Scotltish university’s Department of Archaeology, will speak at 6 p.m. in the second-floor ballroom on “Old Wounds, New Perspectives: The Archeological Investigation of Culloden Battlefield.”

Pollard’s talk is sponsored by MTSU’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology and the Middle Tennessee Anthropology Society and is part of the Anthropologica: Anthropology in Action Visiting Lecture Series. It’s open to the public, and a campus map with parking notes is available at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParkingMap13-14.

Pollard is the editor of "Culloden: The History and Archaeology of the Last Clan Battle," which, like his MTSU lecture, tells the archeological story of the bloody 1746 battle of the British government army against the Jacobite rising of Scots Highlanders and "Bonnie Prince Charlie" Stuart. The Jacobites wanted to restore James II and his Stuart heirs to the English throne held by George II and the Hanoverians.

Pollard and his team’s forensic archaeology at the battlefield site near Inverness, the northernmost city in the United Kingdom, between 2001 and 2006 helped the National Trust of Scotland develop, construct and open a new visitor center in 2008 with more historic detail than ever expected.

During his career, Pollard has conducted battlefield and conflict-related archaeological projects in the United Kingdom, mainland Europe, Africa and South America. His interests range from 18th century warfare, particularly in relation to the Jacobite rebellions in Scotland like Culloden, to the archaeology of World Wars I and II. His work on behalf of the Australian Army helped bring to light the WWI mass graves of Australian and British troops at Fromelles in France.

In addition to his Culloden book, Pollard is the author of "The Minutes of the Lazarus Club" and the co-author of two "Two Men in a Trench: Battlefield Archaeology" books, which became a BBC TV series. His books will be available to buy at the event, and he’ll be signing copies after his lecture.

The Anthropologica: Anthropology in Action Visiting Lecture Series brings experts to MTSU twice a year to present their "cutting edge" research with a particular emphasis on the real-world applications and contributions of anthropologists in a diversity of settings, alongside and intermingled with their career experiences and anecdotes.

Pollard’s visit is also sponsored by MTSU’s Office of the University Provost, the College of Liberal Arts, the University Honors College, the Distinguished Lecture Committee, the College of Graduate Studies, the McNair Scholars Program and the Forensic Institute for Research and Education.

For more information about the lecture, email Connie Huddleston at connie.huddleston@mtsu.edu.

Pollard also will discuss his findings in an interview with “MTSU On the Record” airing from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9, and from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and www.wmot.org).