As a young boy in Portsmouth, a naval town in southern England dating back to Roman times, Andrew Stewart kindled his fascination with the ancient and medieval realms. While archaeology started off as a childhood hobby, it quickly blossomed into a career that has taken Stewart around the world, shedding light on human history.
Stewart, UC Berkeley’s professor emeritus of ancient Mediterranean art and archaeology who has served the campus for over 40 years, went on his first dig at the Fishbourne Roman Palace near his hometown when he was 12. He has come a long way from his entry-level role on that operation to recently earning the pinnacle of U.S. lifetime achievement accolades in his field. Earlier this month, Stewart was selected the recipient of the 2023 Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Archaeological Achievement – the highest award the Archaeological Institute of America bestows.