History of the prize
The award was endowed by Sir Frederic Kenyon (1863–1952), elected a Fellow in 1903 and serving in turn as the Academy’s sixth president and second secretary. The medal was awarded for the first time in 1957.
Eligibility
a) Eligible nominations can be for any scholar whose work relates to classical studies and archaeology.
How to nominate
Nominations for the Kenyon Medal are currently open and may only be made by Fellows of the British Academy.
Entries should be submitted electronically to prizes@thebritishacademy.ac.uk stating on the email subject ‘Nomination Kenyon Medal 2021’.
In the body of the email clearly state:
- Name of nominee
- Nominee’s position / institution and email address
- Nominee’s principal area of academic distinction
- Supporting statement (250 words)
- Nominator’s name and your British Academy section
- Declaration of any institutional or personal interest
The deadline for submissions is 31 January 2021. Submissions received after this date will not be considered.
Nominations will be reviewed, and winner selected, by the Kenyon Medal panel:
Professor Dame Averil Cameron FBA
Professor Simon Keay FBA
Professor Martin Millett FBA
Professor Anthony Snodgrass FBA
If you have any queries submitting a nomination please email prizes@thebritishacademy.ac.uk
2020 winner

Professor Dame Averil Cameron FBA, for her lifetime contribution to the study of Byzantine history.
Averil Cameron was a classicist at Somerville (1958-62) and then taught classics, ancient history and later Byzantine studies at King’s College London, where she played a central part in the discovery of late antiquity as a historical field and embraced the reception and historiography of Byzantium. She returned to Oxford as the Warden of Keble College until her retirement in 2010. Her former husband Alan Cameron was also awarded the Kenyon Medal in 2013 and was an important early influence along with Arnaldo Momigliano, with whom she studied in London. She is the current President of the Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies.
“For me doing history is about discovery and following one’s curiosity and Byzantium certainly provides plenty of opportunities.”
– Professor Dame Averil Cameron, July 2020
Previous winners
2019 Professor Peter Parsons FBA
2015 Nigel Wilson FBA
2013 Professor Alan Cameron FBA
2011 Emeritus Professor David Peacock
2009 Dr James Adams FBA
2007 Professor Sir Geoffrey Lloyd FBA
2005 Professor Fergus Millar FBA
2003 Professor John Nicolas Coldstream FBA
2002 Dr Martin Litchfield West FBA