About me

I’m Dr Tom Horne: archaeologist, author, editor, historical consultant, podcaster, guide, and heritage-focused social media and communications manager.

Academic

I am an academic expert on the Vikings, with a specific focus on Viking-Age trade and silver bullion economies, in which I have a doctorate.

I read Ancient and Modern History at Balliol College, Oxford, before working as a researcher for BBC history documentaries, returning to academia for an MLitt (Distinction) and a Ph.D. at the University of Glasgow.

Author & Editor

With Routledge, I published the monograph: A Viking Market Kingdom in Ireland and Britain: Trade Networks and the Importation of a Southern Scandinavian Silver Bullion Economy.

I am also an editor, having co-edited and contributed both a chapter and section introductions to a popular multi-authored textbook, The Viking Age in Scotland: Studies in Scottish Scandinavian Archaeology, for Edinburgh University Press.

Both books appear in academic and public libraries across the world.

I continue to write for academic audiences, with a major contribution scheduled to appear in late 2025, and two more in 2026+.

Content Creator & Presenter

I was an award-winning podcast presenter with The Shindig Archaeology Podcast, and still produce and co-present the Govan Early Medieval Podcast.

I also take and edit video, producing archaeology and history films, including shoots at the Repton Great Army winter-camp in Derbyshire and at a Rus’ site in Ukraine.

Building on this content creation experience, I wrote, co-produced, and presented a feature-length documentary about a remarkable Roman villa complex, Brookside Meadows: Making Homes for Millennia.

Press, Comms & PR

I work in archaeology and museum Comms, Press, PR, and community outreach, having achieved successful outcomes for the above for the international archaeology journal, Antiquity, and for RRA, a multinational commercial archaeology group.

I am also volunteer Communications Manager for the Govan Stones museum, which houses an internationally important collection of early medieval stone sculpture. In addition, I volunteer at the Govan Stones as a tour guide and museum assistant.

In both my professional and my volunteer roles, I have been successful in achieving global Press coverage and local community public engagement.