- Fellow type
- UK Fellow
- Year elected
- 2014
- Sections
- Archaeology
A bioarchaeologist, Professor Roberts has a background in archaeology, environmental archaeology and human bioarchaeology. She has studied and interpreted human remains from archaeological sites for the past 30 years, and is specifically interested in exploring the interaction of people with their environments in the past through patterns of health and disease (palaeopathology), and especially those health problems that are common today. A State Registered Nurse initially (1975-8), she completed a BA in Archaeological Studies (Leicester – 1979-1982), a MA Environmental Archaeology and Palaeoeconomy (Sheffield - 1983), and a PhD (bioarchaeology / palaeopathology / medical history – Bradford 1988). Her nursing background, particularly, has guided her into taking an holistic approach to past ill health in bioarchaeology, something that was also considered essential in a hospital environment. Understanding why and how people and communities today experience health problems is essential to be able to understand ill health in the past. She does a wide range of public engagement work.
Current post
Professor of Archaeology, Durham University
Past appointments
University of Durham Reader in Archaeology
2000 - 2004
University of Bradford Senior Lecturer in Biological Anthropology
1994 - 1999
University of Bradford Lecturer in Palaeopathology
1989 - 1994
University of Bradford Research Assistant in Palaeopathology
1983 - 1989
University of Bradford Part-time PhD student in Biological Anthropology
1983 - 1989
The Burns Unit, St. Lawrence Hospital, Chepstow, Gwent Staff Nurse
1979 - 1979
Publications
Health and disease in Britain: from prehistory to the present day
Charlotte Roberts, Margaret Cox - Published in 2003

The past and present of leprosy
Charlotte Roberts, Mary Lewis, Keith Manchester - Published in 2002
