Archaeologist and co-creator of True Ancient Horror
In this special feature, we speak with archaeologist Barry, whose fascination with ancient ritual and belief helped inspire the creation of True Ancient Horror. Alongside writer Julianna, Barry unearths the stories buried beneath centuries of soil — exploring what drives humanity to worship, sacrifice, and remember.
Q: What first drew you to archaeology? Was it a moment, a place, or a feeling that made you realise this was your world?
Barry: I’ve always loved history. My idea of a birthday treat was visiting a castle, museum, or old graveyard, usually with my long-suffering father in tow. When I was about nine, our neighbour took me along to an archaeological site he was working on as a hobby. I remember watching them uncover an ancient oven. It was the most thrilling thing I’d ever seen. The moment I saw that find emerge from the earth, I knew this was what I wanted to do —come hell or high water, and yes, the high water came!
Q: Archaeology has a reputation for being methodical, even slow — but there’s also a deep emotional charge to uncovering the past. What moment in your career has stayed with you the most?
Barry: The first piece of Roman pottery I ever discovered. I remember realising that the last person to touch it had been a Roman soldier, two thousand years ago. The fragment had been made in France, and here I was, in Scotland, holding it. That sense of connection across time was overwhelming. I honestly can’t describe the feeling. That very piece is now part of Falkirk’s museum collection.
Q: Much of your work involves tracing belief and ritual through material evidence. What draws you most to that side of archaeology — the spiritual, psychological, or human element?
Barry: It’s the human element, mainly, but also the spiritual side. I love the challenge of understanding the ancient religious mind. There are no real texts written on it, yet it was clearly so meaningful to these people. We have science to explain things they did not, and that gap between what they believed and what we now know is endlessly fascinating to me.
Q: You and Julianna work together on True Ancient Horror. What’s that collaboration like — how do your two worlds, psychology and archaeology, fit together?
Barry: In archaeology, you’re always asking why — why did this happen, why is this here? You’re constantly examining human actions. Psychology, on the other hand, looks at what drives those actions and beliefs.
When you’re faced with strange or unsettling discoveries, the immediate question becomes: why did they do this? That’s where psychology steps in and helps us interpret the human motives behind the evidence.
Q: If you could travel back to observe any ancient civilisation or event firsthand — safely and invisibly — which would you choose, and why?
Barry: There’s a burial site in Ireland called Newgrange that I’d love to see in its original form, how they built it, used it, and the rituals that took place there thousands of years ago. It’s such an enigmatic site, and not many people outside archaeology really know much about it. The thought of witnessing those ceremonies and seeing what drove them fascinates me. In fact, that’s an excellent idea for a future True Ancient Horror topic!
Q: Your work deals so much with death, ritual, and human remains. Has that changed how you personally think about mortality or the afterlife?
Barry: I’ve already decided I want to be cremated, because I’d hate to be dug up in the future! When you study ancient sites, you see how people buried their dead with objects, animals, even other people — all preparing for the afterlife. Today, we’re simply placed in a coffin, plain and simple. It makes me realise how unimportant material things really are. In the end, it’s about the person and their soul that’s all that truly remains.
Q: When you’re not researching or writing for True Ancient Horror, what helps you switch off or recharge?
Barry: Spending time with my life partner, who means everything to me. I love walking in the Scottish countryside, trying out different cafés and their coffees, and reading archaeology books. I can never get enough of them. Recently, I’ve taken up paint-by-numbers for adults to relax, and I highly recommend it! I also enjoy cooking, cheering on Falkirk FC, and watching a good series on Netflix, whichever one my significant other chooses. I never get to choose!
Q: What’s one historical misconception or myth you wish people understood better?
Barry: People often make the mistake of thinking those who lived in the past were stupid or primitive. In truth, if it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t be where we are today. They were intelligent, resourceful, and deeply connected to the world around them; they just understood it in different ways.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from True Ancient Horror — beyond the history itself?
Barry: I’d like readers to come away with a newfound interest in the past. History isn’t dead, it’s alive all around us, even today. I hope people will be inspired to read more, to dig deeper into the subjects that fascinate them, and to get involved in the history of their own local area. It’s right on everyone’s doorstep, wherever you are.
Q: If you could send one message to your nine-year-old self, standing there by that ancient oven, what would you tell him?
Barry: Have patience — it’s so much bigger than you realise.
