#MeetTheStaffMonday Yulia

This #MeetTheStaffMonday we are meeting Yulia!

“Hi, My name is Yulia and I am the Post-Excavation Assistant to the Director of the Trust, Philip Crummy!
I moved to the UK 10 years ago from St. Petersburg, Russia where I was working as a journalist and then as a press-officer for the Carlsberg group for more than 7 years. After a couple of years in busy London, my family decided to settle in Colchester. This is when I fell in love with the rich Roman heritage. I can remember how impressed I was to find out that the foundations of some Roman Temples were found just a few steps away at St Helena school🏫

I joined the Trust as a volunteer. I helped with the washing and marking of finds as well as helping Philip to edit some of the unfinished reports. After 6 fun months with the Trust I was then appointed to my current position🥳

I currently assist Philip with daily tasks and ongoing projects. We are working on a project that will compile a final report about the excavations around the Garrison. By merging the results of this excavation with the information we previously had from the notes by the famous Rex Hull, we are able to see a wider picture of our town from the 1st-4th century. Also, with the help of British DNA specialists and forensic archaeologists (like our Project Osteologist Megan) we can recreate the stories behind those burials💭

Since I joined the Trust, I have gained a deep knowledge of the known Roman burials around Colchester. Lead coffins are among the most fascinating finds around the town. As a matter of fact, there are just a few of them excavated around Europe. The use of a lead coffin in Roman Colchester especially for a child burial wasn’t just an indicator of a wealthy family but may introduce a desire to preserve the body after death by early Christians! 👀

Outside of archaeology I have 41 dives as a PADI Diver, love cycling, playing piano and spending time with my family🥰”