2026 Winners of Archaeology’s Ross Thomas PGR Prize
Archaeology has recently honoured two of our PGR students as the winner of, and an honourable mention in, the Ross Thomas prize, inaugurated in 2025. This prize is awarded in memory of our late and much-missed friend, colleague and alumnus Dr Ross Thomas, who died suddenly – and far too young – in 2022. More details of his career and achievements can be found here. The prize remembers, with love and gratitude, Ross’s own collegiality and excellence by recognising those PGR students who have made the most impactful contribution to the activities of the Archaeology department over the year, whether through academic excellence and/or engagement in wider departmental or disciplinary activities, such as fieldwork, teaching, leadership, seminars and/or outreach.
Like last year, we received many nominations by both staff and students for the prize, which is itself testament to the strength and commitment of our PGR community. After discussion, the 2026 prize was awarded to Anna Vekony, last year’s runner-up. Anna completed her undergraduate degree in Biology in the USA before coming to the University of Southampton in 2021 for an MSc in Bioarchaeology, and she has been here ever since. Her research interests include osteoarchaeology and palaeopathology, and her PhD is an analysis of the lesions in the maxillary sinuses in skeletal remains. Anna was comended by multiple nominators for her continued outstanding leadership of our department seminar series, at which she is both tireless and extremely efficient, as well as for her role on open days and in supporting her peers and the wider student body. Thank you Anna, for all you have done and continue to do for us!
In light of the strength of her nominations, we also awarded an honourable mention to Sarah Abdelrahman. Sarah is a final-year PhD researcher in Maritime Archaeology at the University of Southampton, funded by the Honor Frost Foundation, researching ship repair and reuse in the Mediterranean. She holds a Master's degree from Alexandria University (2017) and brings extensive research experience from her previous work as a full-time Research Assistant at the Alexandria Centre of Maritime Archaeology and Underwater Cultural Heritage (CMAUCH), where she took part in field surveys, excavations, and monument restoration projects, including the Bagoush archaeological survey. She is co-founder of the Maritime Archaeology Outreach Project (MAOP) in Egypt, which promotes children’s awareness of maritime heritage through education and publications, and continues to build her research profile at the University of Southampton, contributing to outreach activities while gaining further experience in conference organisation and postgraduate teaching. Sarah has been a wonderfully engaged supported of student experience activities and trips, open days and outreach events – thank you Sarah!
Congratulations to Anna and Sarah, and to all our nominees and nominators! Thank you from us all for everything you have done for us, of which we are certain Ross would approve.
