APAC Archaeology Ltd | Local Archaeologist | Archaeological Services Wales

Staff Biography

Dr Phillips has worked in professional archaeology since the late 1990s, completing his first degree in 1999 and a research PhD in 2004. His doctoral research focused on earthwork castles (motte and bailey) of the southern March of Wales and involved extensive landscape and survey-based analysis, contributing to improved approaches to the dating and interpretation of Norman-period earthwork castles.

Dr Phillips has a long-standing specialist interest in early prehistoric archaeology and has participated in research and fieldwork relating to Palaeolithic cave archaeology in Wales, Spain, Gibraltar and Morocco. This work included projects associated with organisations, including the Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum Wales), the Natural History Museum (London) and Oxford Brookes University. Opportunities to work on such sites through commercial development are naturally limited. Alongside this, he has worked across a wide range of archaeological periods from the Mesolithic through to the 20th century, reflecting the varied archaeological landscape of Wales and western England.

Alongside commercial archaeology, Dr Phillips continues to direct long-term research work, including excavation of a previously unrecognised phase of post-medieval charcoal ironworking within the Wye Valley.

Dr Phillips has a particular interest in survey and recording methodologies and has led the development of high-resolution digital recording within APAC Ltd, including the integration of laser scanning and survey control to support accurate archaeological and historic building recording.

APAC Ltd reached its 20-year trading milestone in 2024, having grown primarily through repeat work and professional recommendation.