Professor Stephanie Wynne-Jones appointed as the second Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer Professor of the Deep History and Archaeology of Africa

Prof. Wynne-Jones says: "I’m thrilled to be joining the department in Cambridge. I am looking forward to building on the existing strengths in African teaching and research.  This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I can’t wait to get started."

Prof Wynne-Jones has recently begun work on ZAMBEZI, an ERC-Advanced Grant project exploring the archaeology of the Zambezi Valley. This project will include renewed excavations at the iconic site of Ingombe Ilede, which has not been excavated since the discovery of a remarkable set of Iron Age burials there in the 1960s. Work at Ingombe Ilede will recover details of regional networks of metal production and consumption, wealth, identity and trade before the period of European colonialism here. Work at the site will be complemented by regional survey and excavation to put Ingombe Ilede into its broader context. 

Previous research by Prof Wynne-Jones has explored histories of urbanism, wealth and value in eastern Africa. She has a particular specialism on the Swahili coast and has published widely on the archaeology and history of the region. Her work on Swahili archaeology and heritage includes excavations of early towns on Zanzibar and large-scale excavations at the World Heritage Site of Songo Mnara, due to be published as a monograph later in 2026. Stephanie’s work integrates community archaeology and working with collaborators locally to disseminate the results of research and explore how local African communities can benefit from their rich cultural heritage. These themes will resonate strongly with the Department at Cambridge.

Prof. Cameron Petrie, Head of the Department of Archaeology, says: "We are hugely grateful to the generous support of the Jonathan and Jennifer Oppenheimer Foundation, which made this professorship possible. It offers Cambridge an incredible opportunity to be at the forefront of archaeological research in Africa, and also makes it possible for us support and collaborate with the next generation of researchers and research from across Africa".