Ailsa Mainman

Biography

Tour Director Ailsa Mainman, BA, MSc, PHD, is a freelance archaeologist and writer based in York. Much of her career was spent at York Archaeological Trust, working initially on Viking Age discoveries, which led to the famous Jorvik Viking Centre, before moving onto Anglo-Saxon material. As Assistant Director, she oversaw various research and publications, before leaving to write Anglo-Saxon York and pursue a freelance career. Ailsa has worked on various excavations in Europe and lectured on tours throughout the Viking world. She is also an Honorary Visiting Fellow at the Department of Archaeology, University of York and a Research Associate at York Archaeological Trust.