Andrew Selkirk
Encyclopedia
Andrew Selkirk is Editor-in-chief of Current Publishing
Current Publishing
Current Publishing is a publishing company in southern Maine that puts out six weekly newspapers. Lee Hews is the company's publisher. Jane P. Lord is the executive editor, and Ben Bragdon is the managing editor.-Publications:...

, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and former Vice-President of the Royal Archaeological Institute
Royal Archaeological Institute
The Royal Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland is a learned society, established in 1844, primarily devoted to the publication of the Archaeological Journal, a production of archaeological news that has been in print since 1844....

.

Early life and education

Selkirk attended his very first dig aged 13 years old. His early interest would continue long into adulthood; following secondary education, he read Classics at Oxford, where he would become President of the Oxford University Archaeological Society.

Publishing

He initially pursued a career as a chartered accountant. While editing the student magazine Contra, Selkirk found he had a penchant for magazine publishing. Coupling this with his passion for archaeology, he founded Current Archaeology
Current Archaeology
- Summary :Current Archaeology describes itself as the "United Kingdom's best selling archaeology magazine", a claim substantiated by British Archaeological Jobs and Resources online, which labels the title 'Britain's favourite archaeology magazine'. It was founded in 1967 by Andrew Selkirk, a...

in 1967. The publication now has a readership over 17,000.

In 1998, he co-founded Current Publishing
Current Publishing (UK)
- Summary :Current Publishing was founded in 1998. The company now publishes three titles: Current Archaeology, Current World Archaeology, and Military Times, in addition to several online services dedicated to archaeology, heritage, and sites of historical significance.Current Publishing was...

, as the home of his flagship magazine, and the platform for Current World Archaeology
Current World Archaeology
Current World Archaeology is a magazine devoted to archaeology spanning the globe.- Summary :The magazine focuses particularly on Egypt, Mesopotamia and the Near East, and Greece and Rome, although the whole world is covered...

(which launched in 2003) and Military Times
Military Times
Military Times is a monthly military history magazine, published by Current Publishing and the Chelsea Magazine Company.- Overview :Military Times is edited by Dr Neil Faulkner, with George Clode, and published by Luke Bilton. The magazine covers all aspects of military history, from battles of...

(in 2010).

Andrew Selkirk is now the Editor-in-chief of all three publications, whilst his son Robert is the company’s publisher and managing director.

His research and expertise has been cited in many other books, including The Amateur Archaeologist by Stephen Wass (1992); Archaeology in British Towns by Patrick Ottoway (1996); and The Ethics of Archaeology by Chriss Scarre and Geoffrey Scarre (2006). Selkirk's knowledge of British archaeology has been consulted by History Today
History Today
History Today is an illustrated history magazine. Published monthly in London since January 1951, it is the world's leading, and possibly oldest, history magazine. Its successful mission has always been to present serious and authoritative history to as wide a public as possible...

, in which he has discussed topics including 'the changing face of Pre-Conquest Britain'.

Archaeological career

According to the Northamptonshire Archaeological Society, Selkirk 'has gone on to become very well known throughout British archaeology'. He has worked with a number of archaeological societies and organisations. In addition to his appointments as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and Vice-President of the Royal Archaeological Institute, he is Chairman of the Council for Independent Archaeology, and co-founder of the British Archaeological Awards. As noted by the Archaeology and Contemporary Society of Liverpool University, 'The Council for Independent Archaeology was created in 1989 to ensure that the interests of independent/amateur archaeologists do not get lost in the face of the increasing professionalisation and specialisation of archaeologists and archaeological practice'.

He has served on the councils of the Roman Society and the Prehistoric Society, and has lectured on 'Demystifying Field Archaeology', and 'The Public Face of Archaeology', amongst other subjects. He continues to promote amateur archaeology and archaeology independent of government. According to the Adam Smith Institute
Adam Smith Institute
The Adam Smith Institute, abbreviated to ASI, is a think tank based in the United Kingdom, named after one of the founders of modern economics, Adam Smith. It espouses free market and classical liberal views, in particular by creating radical policy options in the light of public choice theory,...

, Selkirk 'advocates the use of Independence Impact Statements as part of a drive to end the stuffy pseudo-professional capture of Britain's Arts and Heritage'.

In May 2000, Selkirk appeared as a studio guest on the BBC programme, Talking Point On Air, presented by Robin Lustig, debating the subject 'Whose art is it anyway?'. He has been quoted in The Guardian, condemning cuts to funding on the British Museum.

Personal interests

A keen traveler, Selkirk enjoys touring the archaeological sites of Britain in his camper van, and visiting excavations across the globe. He continues to write on his experiences.
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